Rotating device for vehicle interior item, and rotating device for vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A rotating device for a vehicle interior item is provided with latching means that is provided on a side of a base member having a rotation support part, and engagement means that is provided on a side of a rotating member supporting a vehicle interior item and being rotatably supported by the rotation support part, and can be switched between a state in which the engagement means engages with the latching means so as to suppress detachment of the rotating member from the base member and a state in which the engagement with the latching means is released when the rotating member attains the rotatable state, wherein the latching means and the engagement means are disposed further outside than the rotating member in plan view at least when the rotating member is in the non-rotating state. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an increase in the height while suppressing detachment when the vehicle interior item is not rotating.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/614,778, filed on Nov. 29, 2023, which is the U.S. National Stageentry of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/021399, filed on May29, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2019-102647, filed on May 31, 2019; Japanese Patent Application No.2019-125481, filed on Jul. 4, 2019; Japanese Patent Application No.2019-218991, filed on Dec. 3, 2019; and Japanese Patent Application No.2020-076526, filed on Apr. 23, 2020, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rotating device for a vehicleinterior item that includes a base member that has a rotation supportpart, a rotating member that supports the vehicle interior item, isrotatably supported by the rotation support part, and is disposed abovethe base member, rotation-locking means that enables the rotating memberto be switched between a rotatable state and a non-rotatable state,latching means that is provided on the base member side, and engagementmeans that is provided on the rotating member side and can be switchedbetween a state in which the engagement means engages with the latchingmeans when the rotating member is in the non-rotating state so as tosuppress detachment of the rotating member from the base member and astate in which the engagement with the latching means is released whenthe rotating member attains the rotatable state, and to a rotatingdevice for a vehicle seat in which the vehicle interior item is avehicle seat.

BACKGROUND ART

A rotating device for a vehicle seat in which a rotating membersupporting a vehicle seat as a vehicle interior item is rotatablysupported by a base member, engaging a lock pin on the rotating memberside with a lock hole on the base member side when the rotating memberis not rotating restricts rotation of the vehicle seat and alsosuppresses detachment of the vehicle seat when a large load acts on thevehicle seat, and when rotating the rotating member, that is, thevehicle seat, disengaging the lock pin from the lock hole releases thesuppression of detachment and enables rotation of the vehicle seat isknown from Patent Document 1.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.    05-330371-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.    2010-173491-   Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.    2004-123044

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention FirstProblem

Accompanying an increase in the elements necessary for a vehicle seat inrecent years, a reduction in the size of the vehicle seat is required,but in an arrangement that includes detachment suppression means asdisclosed in Patent Document 1 above, the height tends to increase by aproportion corresponding to the detachment suppression means, and thereis therefore a desire for an arrangement that can prevent the height ofa rotating device for a vehicle interior item such as a vehicle seatfrom increasing even it includes detachment suppression means, that is,a desire for solving the first problem.

The present invention has been accomplished in light of suchcircumstances, and it is a first object thereof to provide a rotatingdevice for a vehicle interior item that can solve the first problem byenabling an increase in the height to be suppressed while suppressingdetachment when the vehicle interior item such as a vehicle seat is notrotating, and to provide a rotating device for a vehicle seat in whichthe vehicle interior item is a vehicle seat.

Second Problem

Furthermore, a vehicle seat device that includes a rotation mechanismhaving a rotating member having mounted thereon a seat cushion framesupporting a seat cushion and a base member rotatably supporting therotating member from below, and making a seat rotatable with respect toa floor is known from Patent Document 2, etc.

In order to facilitate operation of the rotation mechanism disposedbeneath a seat cushion, the entry of foreign matter into the rotationmechanism should be avoided as much as possible, but Patent Document 2does not disclose a structure that can solve the second problem, forexample, one that suppresses the entry of foreign matter into therotation mechanism.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seatdevice that can solve the second problem by suppressing the entry offoreign matter into a rotation mechanism.

Third Problem

Moreover, a vehicle seat device that includes a seat cushion framesupporting a seat cushion, a rotation mechanism disposed beneath theseat cushion frame while having a rotating member supporting the seatcushion frame and a base member rotatably supporting the rotating memberfrom below, electrical equipment, and an ECU for controlling operationof the electrical equipment, wherein the rotating member is supported bythe base member so that it can rotate in response to operation of anelectric motor, is known from for example Patent Document 3, etc.

In a vehicle seat device that includes electrical equipment such as anelectric motor, in order to ensure there is space for disposing an ECUcontrolling the operation of the electrical equipment, there is a thirdproblem that the height of a seat cushion increases, and there is adesire to avoid this.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seatdevice that can solve the third problem by enabling any increase inheight of the position of a seat cushion due to disposition of an ECU tobe avoided.

Fourth Problem

Furthermore, a vehicle rotating seat device that includes a seat framesupporting a seat main body, a rotating member supporting the seatframe, a base member rotatably supporting the rotating member, and anelectrical component such as an electric motor for rotating the rotatingmember is known from for example Patent Document 3, etc.

In such a vehicle rotating seat device, an electrical component is oftenmounted on the seat frame side, and there is a fourth problem that whena seat main body and a seat frame rotate, an electric wire connected tothe electrical component will slag or be damaged due to an unreasonableload acting thereon, and there is a desire to avoid this.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a vehicleseat-rotating device that can solve the fourth problem by avoiding theoccurrence of slagging of an electric wire connected to an electricalcomponent or the occurrence of damage to the electric wire when a seatmain body is rotating.

Means for Solving the Problems Solution Means for First Problem andEffects Thereof

In order to attain the first object, according to a first aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a rotating device for a vehicleinterior item, comprising a base member that has a rotation supportpart, a rotating member that supports the vehicle interior item, isrotatably supported by the rotation support part, and is disposed abovethe base member, rotation-locking means that enables the rotating memberto be switched between a rotatable state and a non-rotatable state,latching means that is provided on the base member side, and engagementmeans that is provided on the rotating member side and can be switchedbetween a state in which the engagement means engages with the latchingmeans when the rotating member is in a non-rotating state so as tosuppress detachment of the rotating member from the base member and astate in which the engagement with the latching means is released whenthe rotating member attains the rotatable state, characterized in thatthe latching means and the engagement means are disposed further outsidethan the rotating member in plan view at least when the rotating memberis in the non-rotating state. In accordance with the first aspect, sincethe latching means and the engagement means are disposed further outsidethan the rotating member in plan view at least when the rotating memberis not rotating, the latching means and the engagement means do notoverlap the rotating member in the height direction, and it is possibleto form the rotating device compactly in the height direction whilesuppressing, by the latching means and the engagement means, detachmentof the rotating member.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first aspect, the engagement means is disposed at aposition where at least part of the engagement means overlaps therotating member when viewed from a side. In accordance with the secondaspect, since at least part of the engagement means overlaps therotating member when viewed from the side, it is possible to suppressany increase in the height of the rotating device due to disposition ofthe engagement means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to thefirst or second aspect, the latching means is fixed to the base memberat a position where at least part of the latching means overlaps thebase member supported on a vehicle floor when viewed from the side. Inaccordance with the third aspect, due to the latching means being fixedto the base member supported on the vehicle floor, the latching meanscan be attached to the base member in advance when assembling therotating device onto the vehicle floor, it is possible to enhance theease of assembly, and it is also possible to suppress any increase inthe height of the rotating device due to disposition of the latchingmeans.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition toany one of the first to third aspects, the engagement means comprises ashaft support member that is fixed directly or indirectly to therotating member, a shaft member that is supported by the shaft supportmember, and a hook member that is pivotably and axially supported by theshaft member, the latching means comprises a striker that can engagewith the hook member and a striker support member that supports thestriker and is fixed directly or indirectly to the base member, and partof the hook member that is engaged with the striker is set outside theshaft support member in plan view. In accordance with the fourth aspect,since the part where the hook member of the engagement means and thestriker of the latching means are engaged is set, in plan view, outsidethe shaft support member fixed directly or indirectly to the rotatingmember, when a detachment load is acting it is possible for the strikerto easily receive the load.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to thefourth aspect, the striker is disposed at a position lower than thelower end of the rotating member when viewed from the side. Inaccordance with the fifth aspect, since the striker is present at aposition lower than the lower end of the rotating member when viewedfrom the side, it is possible to prevent the rotating member frominterfering with the striker when it is rotating while suppressing anyincrease in the height of the rotating device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to thefourth or fifth aspect, the shaft support member comprises a shaftsupport wall portion to which the shaft member is fixed while beingdisposed outside the rotating member in plan view, and a pair ofextending wall portions that are connectedly provided on the shaftsupport wall portion at positions sandwiching the shaft membertherebetween and extend toward the rotating member side, and theextending wall portions are fixed directly or indirectly to the rotatingmember. In accordance with the sixth aspect, since the pair of extendingwall parts forming part of the shaft support part while sandwiching theshaft member therebetween are fixed directly or indirectly to therotating member, it is possible to enhance the bracing strength of theshaft support member when a load is acting on the rotating member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition toany one of the first to sixth aspects, the rotating device has movementmeans that can move the base member in a vehicle fore-and-aft direction,and the engagement means is disposed at a position where the engagementmeans avoids the movement means in plan view. In accordance with theseventh aspect, since the engagement means is disposed at a position inwhich, in plan view, it avoids the movement means, which enables thevehicle interior item to move in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, itis possible, by preventing the movement means and the engagement meansfrom overlapping each other in the height direction, to suppress anyincrease in the height of the rotating device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition tothe seventh aspect, the engagement means is disposed outside themovement means in plan view. In accordance with the eighth aspect, sincethe engagement means is present outside the movement means in plan view,the engagement means is disposed closer to the outside of the rotatingdevice, and it is possible to receive a load from the vehicle interioritem side via a more outer part of the base member.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to theseventh or eighth aspect, the movement means is disposed between thevehicle floor and the base member, and the latching means is disposedfurther outside than the movement means in plan view. In accordance withthe ninth aspect, since the latching means is disposed in plan viewoutside the movement means, which is disposed between the vehicle floorand the base member, it is possible to receive a load from the vehicleinterior item side via a more outer part of the base member whiledisposing the latching means so as to avoid interference with themovement means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to thefourth aspect, provided between the shaft support member and the hookmember is an urging member that pivotingly urges the hook member in adirection in which the hook member engages with the striker Inaccordance with the tenth aspect, since the hook member is pivotinglyurged by the urging member in a direction in which it engages with thestriker, it is possible to retain a state in which the hook member andthe striker are engaged.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition tothe any of the first to tenth aspects, the latching means and theengagement means are placed at two locations on each of opposite sidesof the base member and the rotating member in a vehicle width directionwhile being spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and disposedfurther rearward than the front end and further forward than the rearend of the rotating member when viewed from the side in the vehiclewidth direction. In accordance with the eleventh aspect, due to thelatching means and the engagement means in the engaged state beingdisposed at two locations on each of opposite sides of the base memberand the rotating member in the vehicle width direction while beingspaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, the latching means and theengagement means are disposed further rearward than the front end andfurther forward than the rear end of the rotating member while enablingthe vehicle interior item to be retained in two attitudes that arerotated through 180 degrees, and it is thus possible to compactlydispose the latching means and the engagement means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition tothe eleventh aspect, the pair of engagement means spaced in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction are formed so as to have a structure in whichpivoting of lower end parts of the hook members of the two engagementmeans toward the side on which the lower end parts move away from eachother in the non-rotatable state enables individual engagement of thetwo hook members with the striker to be released. In accordance with thetwelfth aspect, since the pair of engagement means spaced in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction are formed so as to disengage from the striker bypivoting the lower end parts of the hook members of the engagement meanstoward the side on which they move away from each other in a state inwhich the rotating member cannot rotate, it is possible to prevent thehook members from interfering with each other when releasing theengagement with the striker in the non-rotatable state.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a rotating device for a vehicle seat in which the vehicleinterior item of the rotating device for a vehicle interior itemaccording to any one of the first to twelfth aspects is a vehicle seathaving a seat cushion and a seat back disposed above the seat cushion,wherein the engagement means is disposed at a position in which at leastan upper part of the engagement means overlaps the seat cushion whenviewed from the side. In accordance with the thirteenth aspect, since atleast the upper part of the engagement means overlaps the seat cushionof the vehicle seat when viewed from the side, it is possible tosuppress any increase in the height of the vehicle seat.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in additionto the thirteenth aspect, the rotating device for a vehicle seatcomprises a reclining lever that operates so as to switch between astate in which tilting of the seat back, which is tiltable with respectto the seat cushion, is enabled and a state in which the tilting isrestricted, and at least part of specific engagement means, which is atleast one of the plurality of engagement means, is disposed so as tooverlap the reclining lever when viewed from the side. In accordancewith the fourteenth aspect, since when viewed from the side at leastpart of the specific engagement means, which is at least one of theplurality of engagement means, overlaps the reclining lever, whichoperates so as to switch the inclined state of the seat back, it ispossible to suppress any increase in the height of the rotating devicefor a vehicle seat equipped with the reclining lever.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition tothe fourteenth aspect, a seat cushion frame supporting the seat cushionis formed from a pair of side frames that are arranged at positionsspaced from each other and extend linearly, and a pair of linking framesthat provide a link between opposite end parts of the side frames, andthe engagement means is disposed at a position where at least part ofthe engagement means overlaps the side frame when viewed from the side.In accordance with the fifteenth aspect, since at least part of theengagement means overlaps the pair of side frames forming part of theseat cushion frame when viewed from the side, it is possible to suppressany increase in the height of the rotating device for a vehicle seat.

Moreover, according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the fourteenth aspect, the reclining lever is disposedoutside one side frame of the pair of side frames in plan view, and atleast part of the specific engagement means is disposed further outsidethan the reclining lever in plan view. In accordance with the sixteenthaspect, since at least part of the specific engagement means is presentin plan view outside the reclining lever disposed outside one side frameamong the pair of side frames, it is possible to receive a load from thevehicle interior item side via a more outer part of the base member.

Solution Means for Second Problem and Effects Thereof

In order to achieve the second object, according to a first aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a vehicle seat device thatincludes a rotation mechanism (117) that has a rotating member (130)having mounted thereon a seat cushion frame (119) supporting a seatcushion (112, 172) and a base member (129) rotatably supporting therotating member (130) from below, characterized in that at least part,along a peripheral direction, of an outer periphery of an upper part ofthe rotating member (130) is covered by a cover (165, 175, 178) from theoutside. In accordance with the first aspect, since at least part alongthe peripheral direction of the outer periphery of the upper part of therotating member is covered by the cover from the outside, it is possibleto prevent foreign matter from entering the interior via at least thepart of the rotation mechanism that is covered by the cover.

Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first aspect, the cover (165, 175, 178) is disposed at aposition in which the cover (165, 175, 178) covers the outer peripheryof the upper part of the rotating member (130) from a rear in a state inwhich an occupant seated on the seat cushion (112, 172) faces forward ina vehicle fore-and-aft direction. In accordance with the second aspect,since the cover covers the outer periphery of the upper part of therotating member from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated onthe seat cushion faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, itis possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotationmechanism from a rear passenger seat side in a state in which a driver'sseat or a passenger seat faces forward.

Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the second aspect, the cover (175) is formed by extending askin (172 a) of the seat cushion (172). In accordance with the thirdaspect, since the cover is formed from the skin of the seat cushion,when suppressing the entry of foreign matter into the rotationmechanism, it is possible to avoid any increase in the number ofcomponents.

Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first or second aspect, in a state in which an occupantseated on the seat cushion (112) faces forward in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction, a skin (112 a) of the seat cushion (112) islinked to a rear edge of an upper end part of the rotating member (130)while being in contact with an outer face of the cover (165, 178). Inaccordance with the fourth aspect, since the skin of the seat cushion islinked to the rear edge of the upper end part of the rotating member ina state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion faces forward inthe vehicle fore-and-aft direction and, moreover, the skin is in contactwith the outer face of the cover, it is possible to link the upper partof the cover directly to the skin of the seat cushion and to suppressmore effectively the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanismfrom the rear passenger seat side in a state in which the driver's seator the passenger seat faces forward.

Moreover, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first, second or fourth aspect, the seat cushion frame(119) has a pair of side frames (119 a) that extend linearly and aresupported on the rotating member (130), and the cover (165) is mountedon the side frames (119 a). In accordance with the fifth aspect, sincethe cover is mounted on the pair of side frames of the seat cushionframe, it is possible to rotate the cover together with the seat by asimple structure.

Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first, second, fourth or fifth aspect, an outside faceof the cover (165, 178) is formed into an arc shape that protrudestoward the outside of the rotating member (130). In accordance with thesixth aspect, since the outside face of the cover has an arc shape thatprotrudes toward the outside of the rotating member, when the coverrotates together with the seat, even if the cover comes into contactwith luggage, etc. on a floor within a vehicle compartment, it ispossible to realize smooth rotation of the cover, and consequently theseat.

Moreover, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first to sixth aspects, in a state in which an occupantseated on the seat cushion (112, 172) faces forward in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction, a fixed cover member (167, 177) that covers atleast the base member (129) from the rear is fixedly disposed beneaththe cover (165, 175, 178). In accordance with the seventh aspect, sincethe fixed cover member, which covers at least the base member from therear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion facesforward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, is fixedly disposedbeneath the cover, it is possible to suppress the entry of foreignmatter into the rotation mechanism from the rear passenger seat side ina state in which a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces forward.

Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the seventh aspect, the fixed cover member (167) is formedso as to be in relatively slidable contact with a lower part of thecover (165, 178) in a state in which an occupant seated on the seatcushion (112) faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction. Inaccordance with the eighth aspect, since the fixed cover member is inrelatively slidable contact with the lower part of the cover, it ispossible to suppress more effectively the entry of foreign matter intothe rotation mechanism from the rear passenger seat side in a state inwhich a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces forward.

Moreover, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the seventh or eighth aspect, the lower end position of aside cover (114) covering the side frame (119 a) from the outside is setat the same height as the lower end position of the cover (165, 178). Inaccordance with the ninth aspect, due to the lower end position of theside cover being the same as the lower end position of the cover, it ispossible to suppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotationmechanism from the rear passenger seat side in a state in which adriver's seat or a passenger seat faces in the vehicle width direction.

Furthermore, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the ninth aspect, the cover (178) is formed integrally withat least one of the pair of side covers (114). In accordance with thetenth aspect, since the cover is formed integrally with at least one ofthe pair of side covers, it is possible to easily assemble the coverwhile avoiding any increase in the number of components due todisposition of the cover.

Solution Means for Third Problem and Effects Thereof

In order to achieve the third object, according to a first aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a vehicle seat device that includesa seat cushion frame (216) that supports a seat cushion (211 a), arotation mechanism (214) that is disposed beneath the seat cushion frame(216) while having a rotating member (230) supporting the seat cushionframe (216) and having a base member (229) rotatably supporting therotating member (230) from beneath, electrical equipment (253, 265), andan ECU (270, 271) that controls operation of the electrical equipment(253, 265), characterized in that a circular housing part (241) openingat least upward is formed in a central part of the rotating member(230), and the ECU (270, 271) is present within the housing part (241)in plan view and is disposed at a position in which at least part of theECU (270, 271) overlaps the rotating member (230) when viewed from theside. In accordance with the first aspect, since the ECU is housed inplan view within the circular housing part, which is formed in thecentral part of the rotating member and opens at least upward, and atleast part of the ECU is present at a position in which it overlaps therotating member when viewed from the side, it is possible, bysuppressing upward protrusion of the ECU from the rotating member, toavoid any increase in the height of the seat cushion caused bydisposition of the ECU and it is also possible to avoid any increase inthe size of the vehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal to therotational axis of the rotating member.

Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first aspect, the rotating member (230) is formed so asto have a taper portion (230 a) whose diameter increases in goingupward, a cylindrical side wall portion (230 b) that rises upward froman upper end part of the taper portion (230 a) so as to form the housingpart (241) in cooperation with the taper portion (230 a), and a collarportion (230 c) that protrudes outward from the side wall portion (230b), and the ECU (270, 271) is disposed in an attitude in which it isinclined along the taper portion (230 a). In accordance with the secondaspect, due to the ECU being disposed in an attitude in which it isinclined along the taper portion of the rotating member, it is possibleto suppress more effectively upward protrusion of the ECU from therotating member and suppress more effectively the height of the seatcushion.

Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the second aspect, the rotating member (230) has mountedthereon a mounting member (258) that in plan view is disposed furtherinside than an outer periphery (230 d) of the rotating member (230), andthe ECU (270, 271) is mounted on the mounting member (258). Inaccordance with the third aspect, since the ECU is mounted on themounting member disposed further inside than the outer periphery of therotating member in plan view and mounted on the rotating member, it ispossible to avoid any increase in the size of the vehicle seat device ina direction orthogonal to the rotational axis of the rotating member dueto disposition of the mounting member for mounting the ECU.

Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the third aspect, the mounting member (258) has an inclinedplate portion (258 b) that is inclined along the taper portion (230 a)and is disposed within the housing part (241), and the ECU (270, 271) ismounted on the inclined plate portion (258 b). In accordance with thefourth aspect, since the ECU is mounted on the inclined plate portionpossessed by the mounting member and disposed within the housing part,it is possible to easily mount the ECU on the mounting member in aninclined attitude along the taper portion of the rotating member, thussuppressing upward protrusion of the ECU from the rotating member.

Moreover, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the fourth aspect, the mounting member (258) is joined tothe collar portion (230 c) of the rotating member (230) further forwardthan a rotational axis (2C) of the rotating member (230), and the ECU(270, 271) is mounted on the inclined plate portion (258 b) at aposition in which it avoids interference with a cushion-sidepressure-receiving member (219) mounted on the seat cushion frame (216)so as to receive a load from above the seat cushion (211 a). Inaccordance with the fifth aspect, since the mounting member is joined tothe collar portion of the rotating member further forward than therotational axis of the rotating member, and the ECU is mounted on theinclined plate portion at a position in which it avoids interferencewith the cushion-side pressure-receiving member mounted on the seatcushion frame so as to receive a load from above the seat cushion, it ispossible to avoid any increase in the vertical dimension of the vehicleseat device.

Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the fifth aspect, the ECU (270, 271) is disposed whileavoiding a position immediately below a lowest end (219 a) of thecushion-side pressure-receiving member (219) when viewed from the side.In accordance with the sixth aspect, since the ECU is not disposedimmediately below the lowest end of the cushion-side pressure-receivingmember when viewed from the side, it is possible to more easily avoidinterference between the ECU and the cushion-side pressure-receivingmember.

Moreover, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first or second aspect, the ECU (270, 271) and anelectric motor (253) that exerts power for rotating the rotating member(230) are mounted on the side of one of the base member (229) and therotating member (230). In accordance with the seventh aspect, since theelectric motor and the ECU are mounted on the side of one of the basemember and the rotating member, it is possible to easily provide aconnection between the electric motor and the ECU.

Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the seventh aspect, the electric motor (253) and the ECU(270, 271) are mounted on the side of the one of the base member (229)and the rotating member (230) that has the larger vertical dimension. Inaccordance with the eighth aspect, since the electric motor and the ECUare mounted on the side of the one of the base member and the rotatingmember that has the larger vertical dimension, it is possible to easilyensure there is space for disposing the electric motor and the ECU whilesuppressing any increase in the height of the vehicle seat device.

Moreover, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the seventh or eighth aspect, the electric motor (253) andthe ECU (270, 271) are mounted on a mounting member (258) that isdisposed further inside than the outer periphery (230 d) of the rotatingmember (230) in plan view and mounted on one of the base member (229)and the rotating member (230). In accordance with the ninth aspect,since the electric motor and the ECU are mounted on the mounting member,which is disposed further inside than the outer periphery of therotating member in plan view, it is possible to avoid any increase inthe dimension of the vehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal tothe rotational axis of the rotating member due to disposition of themounting member for mounting the ECU and the electric motor.

Furthermore, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the ninth aspect, the mounting member (258) is mounted onthe rotating member (230). In accordance with the tenth aspect, sincethe mounting member is mounted on the rotating member, when the rotatingmember is rotating, the electric motor and the ECU also rotate withrespect to the base member, and it is possible to compactly collecttogether connecting wires between the electric motor and the ECU forcontrolling operation of the electric motor.

It should be noted here that a second taper portion 230 a of anembodiment of the solution means for the third problem, which isdescribed later, corresponds to the taper portion of the presentinvention, a fourth side wall portion 230 b similarly corresponds to theside wall portion of the present invention, a second collar portion 230c similarly corresponds to the collar portion of the present invention,and an electric motor 253 and a blower 265 similarly correspond toelectrical equipment of the present invention.

Solution Means for Fourth Problem and Effects Thereof

In order to achieve the fourth object, according to a first aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a vehicle rotating seat devicethat includes a seat frame (315) that supports a seat main body (311), arotating member (330) that supports the seat frame (315), a base member(329) that rotatably supports the rotating member (330) from below, andan electrical component (350, 365, 374, 378) that is mounted on at leastone of the seat frame (315) and the rotating member (330), characterizedin that an electric wire (359, 369, 376, 380) connected to theelectrical component (350, 365, 374, 378) is retained by an electricwire retaining member (360, 384, 386) that is fixedly disposed at acenter of rotation (3C) of the rotating member (330). In accordance withthe first aspect, since the electric wire connected to the electricalcomponent mounted on at least one of the seat frame and the rotatingmember is retained by the electric wire retaining member positioned atthe center of rotation of the rotating member, it is possible to avoidthe occurrence of sagging or damage to the electric wire connected tothe electrical component when the seat main body is rotating.

Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first aspect, a plurality of the electric wires (359,369, 376, 380) individually connected to a plurality of the electricalcomponents (350, 365, 374, 378) are retained collectively by the singleelectric wire retaining member (360, 384, 386). In accordance with thesecond aspect, since the plurality of electric wires individuallyconnected to the plurality of electrical components are retainedcollectively by the single electric wire retaining member, it ispossible to compactly collect together the plurality of electric wiresand carry out wiring.

Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first or second aspect, a cushion-sidepressure-receiving member (319) that receives a load from above a seatcushion (311 a) forming part of the seat main body (311) is mounted on aseat cushion frame (316) that forms part of the seat frame (315) and issupported on the rotating member (330), and the electric wire retainingmember (360, 384, 386) is disposed at a position in which the electricwire (359, 369, 376, 380) is retained beneath the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member (319). In accordance with the third aspect,since the electric wire retaining member is disposed at a position inwhich the electric wire is retained beneath the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member mounted on the seat cushion frame forming partof the seat frame, it is possible to suppress protrusion of the electricwire retaining member toward the occupant seating face side, thusenabling interference of the electric wire retaining member with anoccupant seated on the seating face to be avoided.

Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the third aspect, the electric wire retaining member (360)is mounted directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member (319).In accordance with the fourth aspect, since the electric wire retainingmember is mounted directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving memberwhile retaining the electric wire beneath the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member, it is possible to avoid interference of theelectric wire retaining member with an occupant seated on the seatingface and also to efficiently dispose the electric wire retaining memberat the center of rotation of the rotating member while avoiding anyincrease in the number of components due to there being no need fornewly providing a member for mounting the electric wire retainingmember.

Moreover, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the first or second aspect, the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member (319), which receives a load from above theseat cushion (311 a) forming part of the seat main body (311), ismounted on the cushion frame (316), which forms part of the seat frame(315) and is supported on the rotating member (330), and the electricwire retaining member (360) is mounted directly on the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member (319). In accordance with the fifth aspect,since the electric wire retaining member is mounted directly on thecushion-side pressure-receiving member, it is possible to efficientlydispose the electric wire retaining member at the center of rotation ofthe rotating member while avoiding any increase in the number ofcomponents due to there being no need for newly providing a member formounting the electric wire retaining member.

Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the third to fifth aspects, the seat frame (315) comprisesthe seat cushion frame (316), which is supported on the rotating member(330), and a seat back frame (317) that is tiltably mounted on the seatcushion frame (316) or the rotating member (330) via a support shaft(312), an electric actuator for tilting (378), which is the electricalcomponent, is mounted on a lower part of the seat back frame (317) sothat the seat back frame (317) can be driven so as to tilt, and theelectric wire (380) connected to the electric actuator for tilting (378)is retained by the electric wire retaining member (360) via anintermediate retaining member (381) mounted on the seat back frame (317)or the rotating member (330) in the vicinity of the support shaft (312).In accordance with the sixth aspect, since the electric actuator fortilting, which is for driving and tilting the seat back frame tiltablymounted on the seat cushion frame or the rotating member via the supportshaft, is mounted on the lower part of the seat back frame, and theelectric wire connected to the electric actuator for tilting is retainedby the electric wire retaining member via the intermediate retainingmember mounted on the seat cushion frame or the rotating member in thevicinity of the support shaft, it is possible to prevent the electricwire between the electric wire retaining member and the electricactuator for tilting from sagging or being damaged when the seat mainbody is rotating or the seat back frame is being tilted.

Moreover, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the third aspect, a retaining member-supporting member (383,385) is mounted on the base member (329), and the electric wireretaining member (384, 386) is mounted on the retainingmember-supporting member (383, 385). In accordance with the seventhaspect, since the electric wire retaining member is mounted on theretaining member-supporting member, which is mounted on the base member,it is possible to easily assemble the electric wire retaining memberwhen assembling the seat-rotating device, thus improving theworkability.

Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the seventh aspect, the electric wire retaining member (384)retains the electric wires (359, 369, 376, 380) above the retainingmember-supporting member (383) and is mounted on the retainingmember-supporting member (383). In accordance with the eighth aspect,since the electric wire retaining member retains the electric wire abovethe retaining member-supporting member, it is possible to carry outwiring by compactly collecting together the electric wires within theseat-rotating device.

Moreover, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, inaddition to the seventh aspect, the electric wire retaining member (386)retains the electric wires (359, 369, 376, 380) beneath the retainingmember-supporting member (385) and is mounted on the retainingmember-supporting member (385). In accordance with the ninth aspect,since the electric wire retaining member retains the electric wirebeneath the retaining member-supporting member, it is possible to carryout operations in a state in which the seat-rotating device is laidsideways when assembling the seat-rotating device, thus enabling theelectric wire to be easily retained by the electric wire retainingmember and thereby improving the workability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Explanation of Drawings ShowingEmbodiments of Solution Means for First Problem

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotating device for a vehicle seat.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rotating device for a vehicle seat in whichthe vehicle seat is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2 in a state inwhich a seat cushion is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6A is a sectional view showing the arrangement of a rotationlocking mechanism separately in a locked state.

FIG. 6B is a sectional view showing the arrangement of a rotationlocking mechanism separately in a lock release state.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line 7-7 in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an essential part of a vehicle seatdevice.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 9 in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 10 in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 11 in FIG. 3 .

Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for SecondProblem

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat device of a firstembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view when viewed from the direction shown byarrow 13 in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is a perspective view in state in which a seat cushion, a seatback, and a side cover are removed from FIG. 12 .

FIG. 15 is a sectional view along line 15-15 in FIG. 16 showing part ofa slide rail and a rotation mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a view when the slide rail and the rotation mechanism areviewed from the direction shown by arrow 16 in FIG. 15 .

FIG. 17A is a sectional view along line 17-17 in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 17B is another sectional view along line 17-17 in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 18 is a sectional view along line 18-18 in FIG. 17A.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view along line 19-19 in FIG. 16 showing part ofthe vehicle seat device.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 19 , of a secondembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view, corresponding to FIG. 13 , of a thirdembodiment.

Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for ThirdProblem

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat device in a statein which a seat main body is omitted.

FIG. 23 is a plan view when an essential part of the vehicle seat deviceis viewed from above.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view along line 24-24 in FIG. 23 .

FIG. 25 is a view of a slide rail and a rotation mechanism from the samedirection as in FIG. 23 .

FIG. 26 is a view when the slide rail and the rotation mechanism areviewed from the side opposite to that in FIG. 25 .

FIG. 27 is a sectional view along line 27-27 in FIG. 25 .

Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for FourthProblem

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat-rotating device ofa first embodiment in a state in which a seat main body is omitted.

FIG. 29 is a plan view when an essential part of the vehicleseat-rotating device is viewed from above.

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the seat-rotating device along line 30-30in FIG. 29 .

FIG. 31 is a view in the direction of arrow 31 in FIG. 30 in a state inwhich a seat cushion frame and a cushion-side pressure-receiving memberare omitted.

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of the seat-rotating device along line 32-32in FIG. 31 .

FIG. 33 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 30 , of a secondembodiment.

FIG. 34 is a view in the direction of arrow 34 in FIG. 33 in a state inwhich a seat cushion frame and a cushion-side pressure-receiving memberare omitted.

FIG. 35 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 30 , of a thirdembodiment.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS Explanation of ReferenceNumerals and Symbols of Drawings Showing Embodiment of Solution Meansfor First Problem

-   -   11 Vehicle seat, which is a vehicle interior item    -   12 Seat cushion    -   13 Seat back    -   15 Seat cushion frame    -   17 Reclining lever    -   18 Side frame    -   19 Pan frame, which is a linking frame    -   20 Rear pipe, which is a linking frame    -   22 Base member    -   23 Rotating member    -   30 Rotation support part    -   35 Vehicle floor    -   36 Movement means    -   45 Rotation-locking means    -   62 Latching means    -   63 Engagement means    -   66 Shaft support member    -   66 a Shaft support wall portion    -   66 b Extending wall portion    -   67 Shaft member    -   69 Hook member    -   70 Striker    -   71 Striker support member    -   74 Second coil spring, which is an urging member

Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings ShowingEmbodiments of Solution Means for Second Problem

-   -   110 Vehicle seat device    -   112 Seat cushion    -   112 a Skin    -   114 Side cover    -   117 Rotation mechanism    -   119 Seat cushion frame    -   119 a Side frame    -   129 Base member    -   130 Rotating member    -   165, 175, 178 Cover    -   167, 177 Fixed cover member

Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings ShowingEmbodiment of Solution Means for Third Problem

-   -   211 a Seat cushion    -   214 Rotation mechanism    -   216 Seat cushion frame    -   219 Cushion-side pressure-receiving member    -   219 a Lowest end of cushion-side pressure-receiving member    -   229 Base member    -   230 Rotating member    -   230 a Taper portion    -   230 b Side wall portion    -   230 c Collar portion    -   230 d Outer periphery of rotating member    -   241 Housing part    -   253 Electric motor, which is electrical equipment    -   258 Mounting member    -   258 b Inclined plate portion    -   265 Blower, which is electrical equipment    -   270, 271 ECU    -   2C Rotational axis

Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings ShowingEmbodiments of Solution Means for Fourth Problem

-   -   311 Seat main body    -   311 a Seat cushion    -   312 Support shaft    -   315 Seat frame    -   316 Seat cushion frame    -   317 Seat back frame    -   319 Cushion-side pressure-receiving member    -   329 Base member    -   330 Rotating member    -   350 Electric actuator for rotation, which is an electrical        component    -   359, 369, 376, 380 Electric wire    -   360, 384, 386 Electric wire retaining member    -   365 Blower, which is an electrical component    -   374 Electric actuator for raising/lowering, which is an        electrical component    -   378 Electric actuator for tilting, which is an electrical        component    -   381 Intermediate retaining member    -   383, 385 Retaining member-supporting member    -   3C Center of rotation

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment of Solution Means forFirst Problem

An embodiment of the present invention is explained below by referenceto the attached drawings. In the explanation below, ‘fore and aft’,‘left and right’ and ‘up and down’ refer to directions viewed by anoccupant when a vehicle seat is in an attitude in which the occupantseated thereon faces forward.

First, in FIG. 1 , a vehicle seat 11, which is a vehicle interior item,includes a seat cushion 12 for an occupant to be seated on, a seat back13 supporting the back of the occupant seated on the seat cushion 12,and a headrest 14 provided on an upper part of the seat back 13 so thatthe up-and-down position of the headrest 14 can be adjusted.

Referring in addition to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 , the seat cushion 12 issupported by a seat cushion frame 15, and the seat back 13 is supportedby a seat back frame (not illustrated) that is tiltably linked, via areclining mechanism (not illustrated), to a rear part of the seatcushion frame 15 when the vehicle seat 11 is in a state in which thevehicle seat 11 faces a reference direction, that is, in a state inwhich an occupant seated on the seat cushion 12 faces forward in thevehicle fore-and-aft direction.

The seat cushion frame 15 is formed from a pair of side frames 18 thatare arranged at positions spaced from each other and extend linearly inthe vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and a pair of linking frames thatprovide a link between opposite end parts of the side frames 18; in thisembodiment one of the pair of linking frames is a pan frame 19 thatprovides a link between front end parts of the pair of side frames 18 ina state in which the vehicle seat 11 faces the reference direction, andthe other linking frame is a rear pipe 20 that provides a link betweenrear end parts of the side frames 18.

A reclining lever 17 for operating the reclining mechanism is disposed,among the pair of side frames 18, outside one side frame 18 in planview, in this embodiment on the outside in plan view of the side frame18 disposed on the left side in a state in which the vehicle seat 11faces the reference direction.

Referring in addition to FIG. 5 , the seat cushion frame 15 is providedon a rotation mechanism 21, the rotation mechanism 21 including a basemember 22, an annular rotating member 23 that supports the seat cushionframe 15 and is rotatably supported by the base member 22, and a covermember 24 that covers part of the rotating member 23 from above and isfixed to the base member 22.

The base member 22 has an annular first bottom wall portion 22 a, acylindrical first side wall portion 22 b that rises upward from an outerperipheral part of the first bottom wall portion 22 a, and a firstcollar portion 22 c that protrudes outward from an upper end part of thefirst side wall portion 22 b, the first collar portion 22 c being formedinto a rectangular shape.

The cover member 24 has an annular second bottom wall portion 24 a thatabuts against the first bottom wall portion 22 a of the base member 22from above, a cylindrical second side wall portion 24 b that risesslightly upward from the outer periphery of the second bottom wallportion 24 a, a first taper portion 24 c that is formed so as to have alarger diameter in going upward and is connectedly provided on an upperend part of the second side wall portion 24 b, an annular first flatwall portion 24 d that is connected to an upper end part of the firsttaper portion 24 c, and a cylindrical third side wall portion 24 e thatrises upward from the outer periphery of the first flat wall portion 24d, the second bottom wall portion 24 a being joined to the first bottomwall portion 22 a of the base member 22 by a plurality of rivets 25.

The rotating member 23 has a second taper portion 23 a that is disposedat a position opposing the first taper portion 24 c of the cover member24 from the outside and is formed so as to have a larger diameter ingoing upward, a cylindrical fourth side wall portion 23 b that risesupward from an upper end part of the second taper portion 23 a so as tooppose the third side wall portion 24 e of the cover member 24 from theoutside, and a second collar portion 23 c that protrudes outward fromthe fourth side wall portion 23 b, the second collar portion 23 c beingformed into a rectangular shape. A frame support plate 26 is fastened toopposite sides of the second collar portion 23 c in the vehicle widthdirection by means of pluralities of first bolts 27 and first nuts 28,and the side frame 18 of the seat cushion frame 15 is mounted on theframe support plate 26.

The rotating member 23 is rotatably supported on an annular rotationsupport part 30 of the base member 22 via a bearing 31, and the rotationsupport part 30 is formed into an annular shape from the first bottomwall portion 22 a and the first side wall portion 22 b of the basemember 22 so that its cross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped.

The bearing 31 is formed by retaining balls 33 at a plurality oflocations in the peripheral direction of an annular retainer 32, and anannular recess part 34 for the balls 33 to roll in is formed in thesecond taper portion 23 a of the rotating member 23.

The base member 22 can be made to move in the vehicle fore-and-aftdirection by movement means 36, the movement means 36 being disposedbetween a vehicle floor 35 and the base member 22.

The movement means 36 includes a pair of left and right fixed rails 37that extend in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction while being spaced inthe left-and-right direction, and a pair of left and right movable rails38 that are slidably fitted to the fixed rails 37; the fixed rails 37are fixed to the vehicle floor 35 via a front rail support member 39 andrear rail support member 40 that are disposed so as to be spaced in thevehicle fore-and-aft direction, and due to the front rail support member39 being formed so as to be higher than the rear rail support member 40the fixed rails 37 are supported on the vehicle floor 35 in an attitudein which they are inclined downward to the rear.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 5 , the movable rail 38 has secured theretoby welding, etc. support brackets 42, and these support brackets 42 arefastened to opposite sides in the vehicle width direction of the firstcollar portion 22 c of the base member 22 by means of pluralities ofsecond bolts 43 and second nuts 44. That is, the base member 22 issupported on the vehicle floor 35 via the support bracket 42 and themovement means 36.

Referring in addition to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , a rotatable state and anon-rotatable state of the rotating member 23 can be switched between byrotation-locking means 45, the rotation-locking means 45 including alock member 46 supported on the rotating member 23, an annular push-outmember 47 disposed between the third side wall portion 24 e of the covermember 24 and the fourth side wall portion 23 b of the rotating member23 and operating in association with operation of the lock member 46,and a rattle-suppressing member 48 disposed at a plurality of locationsspaced in the peripheral direction of the push-out member 47.

Provided at a plurality of locations, spaced in the peripheraldirection, of the push-out member 47 are housing holes 49 extendinglengthwise in the peripheral direction of the push-out member 47. Therattle-suppressing member 48 is housed in the housing hole 49.

On the other hand, the lock member 46 having part thereof protrudingoutward from the pan frame 19 is pivotably supported on the secondcollar portion 23 c of the rotating member 23 via a shaft 59. The lockmember 46 can pivot between a locked position in which as shown in FIG.6A it engages with the third side wall portion 24 e of the cover member24 so as to disable rotation of the rotating member 23, and a lockrelease position in which as shown in FIG. 6B the engagement with thethird side wall portion 24 e is released and rotation of the rotatingmember 23 is enabled. Moreover, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 the lockmember 46 is pivotingly urged toward the locked position side by meansof a spring 51 provided between the lock member 46 and a first springsupport member 50 fixed to the second collar portion 23 c, and in thisembodiment the spring 51 is a coil spring and two springs 51 areprovided so as to stretch between the lock member 46 and the firstspring support member 50.

A link arm portion 46 a of the lock member 46 is inserted through athrough hole 52 formed in the fourth side wall portion 23 b of therotating member 23, and an extremity part of the link arm portion 46 acan be inserted into a link hole 53 formed in the push-out member 47;inserting the extremity part of the link arm portion 46 a into the linkhole 53 links the lock member 46 to the push-out member 47. The link armportion 46 a is linked to the link hole 53 when the lock member 46attains the lock release position as shown in FIG. 6B, and the link armportion 46 a applies a pushing force to the push-out member 47 in thepivoting direction.

An engagement arm portion 46 b of the lock member 46 engages with afirst through hole 54 formed in the fourth side wall portion 23 b of therotating member 23 and a second through hole 55 formed in the third sidewall portion 24 e of the cover member 24 when the lock member 46 is atthe locked position shown in FIG. 6A, but disengages from the secondthrough hole 55 to thus release engagement with the cover member 24 whenit is at the lock release position shown in FIG. 6B. The engagement armportion 46 b operates between the locked position and the lock releaseposition so as to straddle the push-out member 47.

Formed in the fourth side wall portion 23 b of the rotating member 23 isa recess part 56 that houses part of the rattle-suppressing member 48and enables the rattle-suppressing member 48 to be closely fittedthereinto.

The rattle-suppressing member 48 is formed into a wedge shape so as tohave an inclined face 48 a whose height gradually decreases as thepush-out member 47 moves in a direction of movement 57 in response tothe lock member 46 operating from the lock release position toward thelocked position side, and the recess part 56, which enables therattle-suppressing member 48 to be closely fitted therein, is formedinto a triangular shape so as to house part of the rattle-suppressingmember 48 while having a recess part-side inclined face 56 a opposingthe inclined face 48 a.

A first coil spring 58 is provided in a compressed state between therattle-suppressing member 48 and, among longitudinally opposite endparts of the housing hole 49 formed in the push-out member 47, a frontend part along the direction of movement. The rattle-suppressing member48 is urged in a direction opposite to the direction of movement 57 by aspring force exerted by the first coil spring 58.

When the lock member 46 is at the locked position, as shown in FIG. 6Athe inclined face 48 a of the rattle-suppressing member 48 abuts closelyagainst the recess part-side inclined face 56 a of the recess part 56 tothus put the rattle-suppressing member 48 in close contact with therotating member 23 and the cover member 24, thereby preventing therotating member 23 from rattling.

When the lock member 46 attains the lock release position, as shown inFIG. 6B, among the longitudinally opposite end parts of the housing hole49, a rear end part along the direction of movement 57 abuts against therattle-suppressing member 48, the rattle-suppressing member 48 is pushedin the direction of movement against the urging force of the first coilspring 58, and the rattle-suppressing member 48 moves toward the side onwhich the inclined face 48 a of the rattle-suppressing member 48 movesaway from the recess part-side inclined face 56 a, thus releasing thestate in which rattling is prevented.

Referring in addition to FIG. 8 , detachment of the rotating member 23from the base member 22 due to a load acting on the rotating member 23in a non-rotatable state is suppressed by a detachment suppressionmechanism 61. The detachment suppression mechanism 61 includes latchingmeans 62 provided on the base member 22 side and engagement means 63provided on the rotating member 23 side, the engagement means 63 beingcapable of switching between a state in which it engages with thelatching means 62 when the rotating member 23 is in a non-rotating stateand suppresses detachment of the rotating member 23 from the base member22 and a state in which engagement with the latching means 62 isreleased when the rotating member 23 attains a rotatable state.

Four of the latching means 62 are disposed on the base member 22 side, apair being disposed on each of opposite sides along the vehicle widthdirection of the base member 22 so as to be spaced in the fore-and-aftdirection, and four of the engagement means 63 are provided on therotating member 23 side, the engagement means 63 being capable ofengaging with the latching means 62. The latching means 62 and theengagement means 63 are spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction andare disposed further rearward than the front end and further forwardthan the rear end of the rotating member 23 when viewed from the side inthe vehicle width direction (see FIG. 2 ). That is, the latching means62 and the engagement means 63 are disposed between a first imaginaryvertical plane IVA passing the front end of the rotating member 23 (seeFIG. 2 ) and a second imaginary vertical plane IVB passing the rear endof the rotating member 23 (see FIG. 2 ). Moreover, as is clearly shownin FIG. 3 the latching means 62 and the engagement means 63 are disposedfurther outside than the rotating member 23 at least in a plan view whenthe rotating member 23 is in the non-rotating state.

Referring in addition to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 , the engagement means 63includes a shaft support member 66 that is fixed directly or indirectlyto the rotating member 23, a shaft member 67 that is supported by theshaft support member 66, and a hook member 68 that is pivotably andaxially supported by the shaft member 67.

The shaft support member 66 includes a shaft support wall portion 66 athat is disposed outside the rotating member 23 in plan view whilehaving fixed thereto the shaft member 67, and a pair of extending wallportions 66 b that are connectedly provided on the shaft support wallportion 66 a at positions sandwiching the shaft member 67 therebetweenand extend toward the rotating member 23 side. The extending wallportion 66 b is fixed directly or indirectly to the rotating member 23,and in this embodiment the extending wall portion 66 b is fixed bywelding, etc. to a support plate 69 fixed by welding, etc. to a lowerface of the second collar portion 23 c of the rotating member 23. Thehook member 68 is disposed outside the shaft support wall portion 66 aand pivotably supported on the shaft member 67.

The engagement means 63 is disposed at a position in which at least partof (part in this embodiment) of the engagement means 63 overlaps therotating member 23 when viewed from the side, and is disposed at aposition in which it avoids the movement means 36 in plan view and, inparticular, is disposed outside the movement means 36 in plan view. Asshown in FIG. 2 , the engagement means 63 is disposed at a position inwhich at least the upper part of the engagement means 63 overlaps theseat cushion 12 when viewed from the side and at least part of (part inthis embodiment) of the engagement means 63 overlaps the side frame 18when viewed from the side.

The engagement means 63 are arranged so that they release engagementwith the latching means 62 by pivoting toward the side on which, amongthe engagement means 63, a lower part of the hook member 68 of theengagement means 63 disposed on the front side in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction of the rotating member 23 and a lower part of thehook member 68 of the engagement means 63 disposed on the rear side inthe vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the rotating member 23 move awayfrom each other.

On the other hand, the latching means 62 are disposed on opposite sidesin the vehicle width direction of the base member 22 while being spacedin the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and include a rod-shaped striker70 that the hook member 68 can engage with and a striker support member71 that supports the striker 70 and is fixed directly or indirectly tothe base member 22, in this embodiment the striker support member 71being fixed to the base member 22 via the support bracket 42.

The second latching means 62 includes the striker 70, with which thehook member 68 can engage, and a second striker support member 71 thatsupports the striker 70 and is fixed directly or indirectly to the basemember 22, and in this embodiment the second striker support member 71is fixed to the base member 22 via the support bracket 42.

The first striker support member 71 is formed so as to have asubstantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape while enabling the hookmember 68 to be inserted into and disengaged therefrom, and the striker70 is fixed to the striker support member 71 so as to straddle thestriker support member 71.

Among the latching means 62, the striker support member 71 of thelatching means 62 disposed on the front side in the vehicle fore-and-aftdirection of the base member 22 is fixed to the base member 22 in anattitude in which it opens forward in the vehicle fore-and-aftdirection, and the striker support member 71 of the latching means 62disposed on the rear side in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of thebase member 22 is fixed to the base member 22 in an attitude in which itopens rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.

The striker 70 is disposed at a position lower than the lower end of therotating member 23 when viewed from the side. That is, as is clearlyshown in FIG. 4 the striker 70 is disposed at a position lower than animaginary horizontal plane IH passing the lower end of the rotatingmember 23.

A second spring support member is secured to each of opposite end partsin the fore-and-aft direction on opposite sides in the vehicle widthdirection of the second collar portion 23 c of the rotating member 23,and a second coil spring 74 is provided between the second springsupport member and the hook member 68 of the engagement means 63, thesecond coil spring 74 being an urging member that pivotingly urges thehook member 68 in a direction in which it engages with the striker 70.

The striker support member 71 is disposed on the outside in the vehiclewidth direction of the fixed rail 37 of the movement means 36, and thestriker support member 71 is secured to a mounting member 75 secured tothe support bracket 42 by welding, etc.

Since the hook member 68 is disposed outside the shaft support member66, the part of the hook member 68 that is engaged with the striker 70is set outside the shaft support member 66 in plan view.

The latching means 62 is fixed via the support bracket 42 to the basemember 22 at a position in which the base member 22 overlaps at leastpart (part in this embodiment) of the latching means 62 when viewed fromthe side, and in plan view as shown in FIG. 3 it is disposed furtheroutside than the movement means 36.

At least part (a lower part in this embodiment) of a specific one amongthe engagement means 63, in this embodiment the engagement means 63disposed on the rear side in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction amongthe engagement means 63, is disposed so as to overlap the reclininglever 17 when viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 2 . Moreover, as isclearly shown in FIG. 3 , at least part of the specific engagement means63 is disposed further outside than the reclining lever 17 in plan view.That is, at least part of the specific engagement means 63 is disposedfurther outside than a third imaginary vertical plane IVC that passes anend part, on the side opposite to the vehicle seat 11, of the reclininglever 17 and extends in the fore-and-aft direction.

The hook member 68 of the engagement means 63 pivots in response tooperation of the lock member 46 of the rotation-locking means 45. Fourcables 76 are provided between the lock member 46 and the hook member68, the cables 76 transmitting to the hook member 68 power for pivotingthe hook member 68 against the spring force of the second coil spring 74when the lock member 46 is pivoted from the locked position to the lockrelease position side.

The cable 76 is formed by movably inserting an inner cable 76 b throughthe interior of an outer cable 76 a. One end part of four outer cables76 a is fixed to a common cable retaining member 77 fixed to the secondcollar portion 23 c of the rotating member 23 so as to oppose the lockmember 46, and one end part of the inner cable 76 b protruding via theone end part of each outer cable 76 a is linked to the lock member 46.Individual retaining members 78 of the cables are fixed to parts,corresponding to the four engagement means 63, of the second collarportion 23 c of the rotating member 23, and the other end parts of theouter cables 76 a are fixed to the individual retaining members 78. Theother end part of the inner cable 76 b protruding via the other end partof each outer cable 76 a is linked to the respective hook member 68.

The operation of this embodiment is now explained. Since the latchingmeans 62, which is provided on the base member 22 side having therotation support part 30 rotatably supporting the rotating member 23supporting the vehicle seat 11, and the engagement means 63, which isprovided on the rotating member 23 side so as to be capable of switchingbetween a state in which it engages with the latching means 62 when therotating member 23 is a non-rotating state and suppresses detachment ofthe rotating member 23 from the base member 22 and a state in whichengagement with the latching means 62 is released when the rotatingmember 23 attains a rotatable state, are disposed further outside thanthe rotating member 23 in plan view at least when the rotating member 23is in a non-rotating state, the latching means 62 and the engagementmeans 63 do not overlap the rotating member 23 in the height direction,and it is possible to form the rotating device compactly in the heightdirection while enabling detachment of the rotating member 23 to besuppressed by the latching means 62 and the engagement means 63.

Furthermore, since the engagement means 63 is disposed at a position inwhich at least part of the engagement means 63 overlaps the rotatingmember 23 when viewed from the side, it is possible to suppress anyincrease in the height of the rotating device due to disposition of theengagement means 63.

Moreover, since the latching means 62 is fixed to the base member 22 ata position in which at least part of the latching means 62 overlaps thebase member 22 supported on the vehicle floor 35 when viewed from theside, it is possible to mount the base member 22 on the latching means62 in advance when assembling the rotating device onto the vehicle floor35, thus enhancing the ease of assembly and also suppressing anyincrease in the height of the rotating device due to disposition of thelatching means 62.

Furthermore, since the engagement means 63 includes the shaft supportmember 66 fixed directly or indirectly to the rotating member 23, theshaft member 67 supported by the shaft support member 66, and the hookmember 68 pivotably and axially supported by the shaft member 67, thelatching means 62 includes the striker 70, with which the hook member 68can engage, and the striker support member 71 supporting the striker 70and directly or indirectly fixed to the base member 22, and the part ofthe hook member 68 that engages with the striker 70 is set outside theshaft support member 66 in plan view, it is possible to make it easy forthe striker 70 to receive a load when a detachment load is acting.

Moreover, since the striker 70 is disposed at a position lower than thelower end of the rotating member 23 when viewed from the side, it ispossible to prevent the rotating member 23 from interfering with thestriker 70 when the rotating member 23 is rotating while suppressing anyincrease in the height of the rotating device.

Furthermore, since the shaft support member 66 includes the shaftsupport wall portion 66 a disposed outside the rotating member 23 inplan view while the shaft member 67 is fixed thereto, and the pair ofextending wall portions 66 b connectedly provided on the shaft supportwall portion 66 a at a position in which the shaft member 67 issandwiched therebetween and extending to the rotating member 23 side,and the extending wall portions 66 b are fixed directly or indirectly tothe rotating member 23, it is possible to enhance the bracing strengthof the shaft support member 66 when a load is acting on the rotatingmember 23.

Moreover, since the movement means 36, which can move the base member 22in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, is provided, and the engagementmeans 63 is disposed at a position in which it avoids the movement means36 in plan view, it is possible to suppress any increase in the heightof the rotating device by preventing the movement means 36 and theengagement means 63 from overlapping each other in the height direction.

Furthermore, since the engagement means 63 is disposed outside themovement means 36 in plan view, the engagement means 63 is disposed onthe part of the rotating device that is closer to the outside, and it ispossible to receive a load from the vehicle seat 11 via part of the basemember 22 that is further outside.

Moreover, since the movement means 36 is disposed between the vehiclefloor 35 and the base member 22, and the latching means 62 is disposedfurther outside than the movement means 36 in plan view, it is possiblefor a load from the vehicle seat 11 to be received by part of the basemember 22 that is further outside while disposing the latching means 62so as to avoid interference with the movement means 36.

Furthermore, since the second coil spring 74, which pivotingly urges thehook member 68 in a direction in which it engages with the striker 70,is provided between the shaft support member 66 and the hook member 68,it is possible to retain a state of engagement between the hook member68 and the striker 70.

Moreover, since the latching means 62 and the engagement means 63 aredisposed at two locations on opposite sides of the base member 22 andthe rotating member 23 in the vehicle width direction while being spacedin the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and disposed further rearward thanthe front end and further forward than the rear end of the rotatingmember 23 when viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, itis possible to compactly dispose the latching means 62 and theengagement means 63 by disposing them further rearward than the frontend and further forward than the rear end of the rotating member 23while enabling the vehicle seat 11 to be retained in two attitudes thatare rotated through 180 degrees.

Furthermore, since the pair of engagement means 63 disposed so as to bespaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction are formed with a structurethat enables the hook members 68 to disengage from the strikers 70, withwhich they have individually engaged, by pivoting lower end parts of thehook members 68 of the engagement means 63 toward the side on which theyare moved away from each other in a state in which the vehicle seat 11cannot rotate, it is possible to prevent the hook members 68 frominterfering with each other when releasing engagement with the striker70 in the non-rotatable state.

Moreover, since the engagement means 63 is disposed at a position inwhich at least an upper part of the engagement means 63 overlaps theseat cushion 12 of the vehicle seat 11 when viewed from the side, it ispossible to suppress any increase in the height of the vehicle seat 11.

Furthermore, since at least part of the specific engagement means 63,which is at least one among the plurality of engagement means 63, isdisposed so that when viewed from the side it overlaps the reclininglever 17, which operates so as to switch between a state in which theseat back 13, which is tiltable with respect to the seat cushion 12, cantilt and a state in which tilting is restricted, it is possible tosuppress any increase in the height of the rotating device for thevehicle seat 11, which includes the reclining lever 17.

Moreover, since the seat cushion frame 15 supporting the seat cushion 12is formed from the pair of side frames 18 positioned so as to be spacedfrom each other and extending linearly, and the pan frame 19 and rearpipe 20 providing a link between opposite end parts of the side frames18, and at least part of the engagement means 63 is disposed at aposition in which it overlaps the side frame 18 when viewed from theside, it is possible to suppress any increase in the height of therotating device for the vehicle seat 11.

Furthermore, since the reclining lever 17 is disposed on the outside, inplan view, of one side frame 18 of the pair of side frames 18, and atleast part of the specific engagement means 63 is disposed furtheroutside than the reclining lever 17 in plan view, it is possible for aload acting from the vehicle seat 11 to be received by part of the basemember 22 that is further outside.

An embodiment of the present invention is explained above, but thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiment and may be modifiedin a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from thesubject matter thereof.

In the above embodiment, the vehicle seat 11 is explained as a vehicleinterior item, but it is not limited to the vehicle seat 11.

Embodiments of Solution Means for Second Problem

Embodiments of the present invention are explained by reference to theattached drawings. In the explanation below, ‘fore and aft’, ‘left andright’ and ‘up and down’ refer to directions viewed by an occupant whena vehicle seat is in an attitude in which the occupant seated thereonfaces forward.

A first embodiment of the present invention is explained below byreference to FIG. 12 to FIG. 19 . First, in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , a seat111 of a vehicle seat device 110 mounted in a vehicle includes a seatcushion 112 that forms a seat part for an occupant and a seat back 113that is disposed above the seat cushion 112, a side cover 114 isdisposed on each of opposite sides of the seat cushion 112, and aheadrest 115 for receiving a head part of the occupant is disposed on anupper part of the seat back 113.

Referring in addition to FIG. 14 , the vehicle seat device 110 includesa pair of slide rails 116 that are arranged in parallel to each otherwhile being spaced in the left-and-right direction in order to make theseat 111 slidable and that extend linearly, and a rotation mechanism 117that can move along the slide rail 116 while rotatably supporting theseat 111.

A seat frame 118 of the vehicle seat device 110 includes a seat cushionframe 119 that supports the seat cushion 112 and a seat back frame 120that is linked to the seat cushion frame 119 so as to support the seatback 113 disposed above the seat cushion 112.

The seat cushion frame 119 has a pair of side frames 119 a that aredisposed so as to extend linearly in the fore-and-aft direction atpositions spaced from each other in the left-and-right direction, a panframe 119 b that provides a link between front end parts of the sideframes 119 a, and a rear pipe 119 c that provides a link between rearend parts of the pair of side frames 119 a.

A cushion-side pressure-receiving member 121 bridges between the panframe 119 b and the rear pipe 119 c. The cushion-side pressure-receivingmember 121 has a plurality (four in this embodiment) of seat springs 122that are formed by curving a metal wire in a zig-zag so as to snake tothe left and right, these seat springs 122 being disposed so thatadjacent seat springs 122 have lateral symmetry and the adjacent seatsprings 122 being linked to each other by means of a plurality ofintermediate linking members 123 that are made of a resin and molded byinsertion molding so as to be integral with the seat spring 122.

Front end parts of the plurality of seat springs 122 are each engagedwith latching parts 124 provided on the pan frame 119 b of the seatframe 118. Rear end parts of the mutually adjacent seat springs 122 areengaged with the rear pipe 119 c of the seat frame 118 and are linked bymeans of a rear end part-linking member 125 that is made of a resin andmolded by insertion molding so as to be integral with the seat spring122, the rear end part-linking member 125 being formed so as to coverthe rear pipe 119 c.

The seat back frame 120 has a pair of seat back side frames 120 a thatextend in the up-and-down direction at positions spaced from each otherin the left-and-right direction, an upper frame 120 b that provides alink between upper end parts of the seat back side frames 120 a, and alower frame 120 c that provides a link between lower end parts of thepair of seat back side frames 120 a.

A back-side pressure-receiving member 126 formed from a resin, etc. soas to be elastically deformable is disposed between the pair of seatback side frames 120 a, the back-side pressure-receiving member 126bridging between the left and right seat back side frames 120 a via anupper link wire 127 and a lower link wire 128.

Referring in addition to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 , the seat frame 118 isplaced on the rotation mechanism 117, the rotation mechanism 117including a base member 129 that can move along the slide rail 116, anannular rotating member 130 that supports the seat frame 118 and isrotatably supported on the base member 129, and a cover member 131 thatis fixed to the base member 129 while covering part of the rotatingmember 130 from above.

The base member 129 has an annular first bottom wall portion 129 a, acylindrical first side wall portion 129 b that rises upward from anouter peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion 129 a, and afirst collar portion 129 c that protrudes outward from an upper end partof the first side wall portion 129 b, the first collar portion 129 cbeing formed into a rectangular shape. The base member 129 is disposedfurther inside than a middle part in the width direction of the pair ofslide rails 116 and beneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member121.

The cover member 131 has an annular second bottom wall portion 131 athat abuts against the first bottom wall portion 129 a of the basemember 129 from above, a cylindrical second side wall portion 131 b thatrises slightly upward from the outer periphery of the second bottom wallportion 131 a, a first taper portion 131 c that is formed so as to havea larger diameter in going upward and is connectedly provided on anupper end part of the second side wall portion 131 b, an annular firstflat wall portion 131 d that is connected to an upper end part of thefirst taper portion 131 c, and a cylindrical third side wall portion 131e that rises upward from the outer periphery of the first flat wallportion 131 d, the second bottom wall portion 131 a being joined to thefirst bottom wall portion 129 a of the base member 129 by a plurality ofrivets 132.

The rotating member 130 has a second taper portion 130 a that isdisposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 131 c of thecover member 131 from the outside and is formed so as to have a largerdiameter in going upward, a cylindrical third side wall portion 130 bthat rises upward from an upper end part of the second taper portion 130a so as to oppose the second side wall portion 131 b of the cover member131 from the outside, and a second collar portion 130 c that protrudesoutward from the third side wall portion 130 b, the second collarportion 130 c being formed into a rectangular shape. The side frame 119a of the seat cushion frame 119 of the seat frame 118 is fastened to thesecond collar portion 130 c via pluralities of first bolts 134 andsecond nuts 135.

The rotating member 130 is rotatably supported on an annular rotationsupport part 136 of the base member 129 via a bearing 137, the rotationsupport part 136 being formed from the first bottom wall portion 129 aand the first side wall portion 129 b of the base member 129 so that itscross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped.

The bearing 137 is formed by retaining balls 139 at a plurality oflocations in the peripheral direction of an annular retainer 138, and anannular recess part 140 for the balls 139 to roll in is formed in thesecond taper portion 130 a of the rotating member 130.

The slide rail 116 is formed from a fixed rail 141 that is fixed to avehicle floor face 133, and a movable rail 142 that is slidably fittedto the fixed rail 141. Formed on the floor face 133 is a convex portion133 a that protrudes upward while extending in the vehicle fore-and-aftdirection. Fixing the fixed rail 141 onto the convex portion 133 aenables a lower part of the rotation mechanism 117 to be disposed at aposition lower than the lower end of the slide rail 116 in theup-and-down direction.

A support bracket 143 is connectedly provided on the movable rail 142,the support bracket 143 extending toward the inside of the pair of sliderails 116 and being formed integrally with or separately from themovable rail 142 (in this embodiment separately), and the base member129 is fastened to the support bracket 143 via a second bolt 145 and asecond nut 146 screwed onto the second bolt 145. That is, the basemember 129 is fixedly linked to the movable rail 142 via the supportbracket 143.

The support bracket 143 is formed so as to integrally have a flatplate-shaped mounting plate portion 143 a that is disposed on themovable rail 142 so that a lower face thereof is fixed to the movablerail 142 by welding, etc., a side-plate portion 143 b that is connectedto the mounting plate portion 143 a at right angles while extending inthe up-and-down direction at a position adjacent to the inner side ofthe slide rail 116, and a flat plate-shaped linking plate portion 143 cthat extends from the lower end of the side-plate portion 143 b towardthe side opposite to the slide rail 116 and abuts against the firstcollar portion 129 c of the base member 129 from below. The linkingplate portion 143 c is fastened to the first collar portion 129 c of thebase member 129.

A first hook member 147 is fixed to the side-plate portion 143 b of thesupport bracket 143 by welding, etc., and a second hook member 148 thatforms, in cooperation with the first hook member 147, adeformation-suppressing mechanism 149 that suppresses upward lifting ofthe rotating member 130 with respect to the movable rail 142 is fixed tothe third side wall portion 130 b of the rotating member 130 by welding,etc. and engaged with the first hook member 147 while allowing therotating member 130 to rotate.

The first hook member 147 is fixed to the support bracket 143 via atotal of four positions corresponding to front end parts and rear endparts of the pair of left and right movable rails 142, and the secondhook member 148 is fixed to the third side wall portion 130 b of therotating member 130 via four positions corresponding to the first hookmember 147.

Referring in addition to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 , it is possible to switchbetween a locked state of the rotating member 130 in which it is lockedwith respect to the base member 129 and the cover member 131 and releaseof the locked state by means of operation of a lock member 152 supportedon the rotating member 130, and a rattle-suppressing member 153 thatoperates in association with operation of the lock member 152 isdisposed between the cover member 131 and the rotating member 130.

A tapered push-out member 154 whose diameter increases in going upwardis disposed between the first taper portion 131 c of the cover member131 and the second taper portion 130 a of the rotating member 130. Ahousing hole 155 extending lengthwise in the peripheral direction of thepush-out member 154 is provided in a plurality of locations, spaced inthe peripheral direction, of the push-out member 154, and therattle-suppressing member 153 disposed between the first taper portion131 c of the cover member 131 and the second taper portion 130 a of therotating member 130 is housed in the housing hole 155.

On the other hand, the lock member 152 is pivotably supported on therotating member 130 via a shaft 151 having a vertical axis, and canpivot between a locked position in which as shown in FIG. 17A it engageswith the first taper portion 131 c of the cover member 131 and preventsrotation of the rotating member 130 and a lock release position in whichas shown in FIG. 17B the engagement with the first taper portion 131 cis released and rotation of the rotating member 130 is allowed, the lockmember 152 being pivotingly urged toward the locked position side bymeans of a spring 156.

A link arm portion 152 a of the lock member 152 is inserted through athrough hole 157 formed in the second taper portion 130 a of therotating member 130, an extremity part of the link arm portion 152 a canbe inserted into a link hole 158 formed in the push-out member 154, andinserting the extremity part of the link arm portion 152 a through thelink hole 158 links the lock member 152 to the push-out member 154. Thelink arm portion 152 a is linked to the link hole 158 when the lockmember 152 attains the lock release position as shown in FIG. 17B, andthe link arm portion 152 a applies a pushing force to the push-outmember 154 in the pivoting direction.

An engagement arm portion 152 b of the lock member 152 engages with afirst through hole 159 formed in the second taper portion 130 a of therotating member 130 and a second through hole 160 formed in the firsttaper portion 131 c of the cover member 131 when the lock member 152 isat the locked position shown in FIG. 17A, but disengages from the secondthrough hole 160 to thus release engagement with the cover member 131when it is at the lock release position shown in FIG. 17B. Theengagement arm portion 152 b operates between the locked position andthe lock release position so as to straddle the push-out member 154.

Formed in the second taper portion 130 a of the rotating member 130 is arecess part 161 that houses part of the rattle-suppressing member 153and enables the rattle-suppressing member 153 to be closely fittedthereinto.

The rattle-suppressing member 153 is formed into a wedge shape so as tohave an inclined face 153 a whose height gradually decreases in goingforward in a direction of movement 162 in which the push-out member 47moves in response to the lock member 152 operating from the lock releaseposition toward the locked position side, and the recess part 161, whichenables the rattle-suppressing member 153 to be closely fitted therein,is formed into a triangular shape so as to house part of therattle-suppressing member 153 while having a recess part-side inclinedface 161 a opposing the inclined face 153 a.

A coil spring 163 is provided in a compressed state between therattle-suppressing member 153 and, among longitudinally opposite endparts of the housing hole 151 formed in the push-out member 154, a frontend part along the direction of movement 162. The rattle-suppressingmember 153 is urged in a direction opposite to the direction of movement162 by a spring force exerted by the coil spring 163.

When the lock member 152 is at the locked position, as shown in FIG. 17Athe inclined face 153 a of the rattle-suppressing member 153 abutsclosely against the recess part-side inclined face 161 a of the recesspart 161 to thus put the rattle-suppressing member 153 in close contactwith the rotating member 130 and the cover member 131, therebypreventing the rotating member 130 from rattling.

When the lock member 152 attains the lock release position, as shown inFIG. 17B, among the longitudinally opposite end parts of the housinghole 151, a rear end part along the direction of movement 162 abutsagainst the rattle-suppressing member 153, the rattle-suppressing member153 is pushed in the direction of movement against the urging force ofthe coil spring 163, and the rattle-suppressing member 153 moves towardthe side on which the inclined face 153 a of the rattle-suppressingmember 153 moves away from the recess part-side inclined face 161 a,thus releasing the state in which rattling is prevented.

Referring in addition to FIG. 19 , at least part, along the peripheraldirection, of the outer periphery of an upper part of the rotatingmember 130 of the rotation mechanism 117 is covered by a cover 165 fromthe outside, and in this embodiment in a state in which an occupantseated on the seat cushion 112 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aftdirection the cover 165 is disposed at a position in which it covers anupper part of the third side wall portion 130 b of the rotating member130 and the second collar portion 130 c from the rear.

Moreover, in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 112faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, a skin 112 a of theseat cushion 112 is linked to the rear edge of an upper end part of therotating member 130, that is, the rear edge of the second collar portion130 c, and an upper part of the cover 165 is connected so as to be incontact with a part of the skin 112 a that is linked to the secondcollar portion 130 c.

The cover 165 is mounted on the pair of side frames 119 a forming partof the seat cushion frame 119 via a mounting arm 166 (see FIG. 16 ).

The cover 165 integrally has a flat plate-shaped upper plate 165 a, alower plate 165 b that opposes the upper plate 165 a from below, alinking plate 165 c that provides a link between end parts, on the sideopposite to the rotating member 130, of the upper plate 165 a and thelower plate 165 b, and an end wall 165 d that provides a link betweenopposite ends in the width direction of the upper plate 165 a, the lowerplate 165 b, and the linking plate 165 c. An outside face of the cover165, that is, an outside face of the linking plate 165 c, is formed intoan arc shape that protrudes outward of the rotating member 130.

A fixed cover member 167 that covers at least the base member 129 fromthe rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 112faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction is fixedly disposedbeneath the cover 165, the fixed cover member 167 being mounted on forexample a rear end part in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of thefixed rail 141 of the slide rail 116.

In the same manner as for the cover 165, the fixed cover member 167integrally has a flat plate-shaped upper plate 167 a, a lower plate 167b that opposes the upper plate 167 a from below, a linking plate 167 cthat provides a link between end parts, on the side opposite to therotating member 130, of the upper plate 167 a and the lower plate 167 b,and an end wall 167 d that provides a link between end parts, in thewidth direction, of the upper plate 167 a, the lower plate 167 b, andthe linking plate 167 c. An outside face of the linking plate 167 c isformed into an arc shape that protrudes outward of the rotating member130.

The fixed cover member 167 is in relatively slidable contact with alower part of the cover 165, the upper plate 167 a of an upper end partof the fixed cover member 167 being in relatively slidable contact witha lower face of the lower plate 165 b of the cover 165.

The side frame 119 a is covered by the side cover 114 from the outside,and as shown in FIG. 15 the lower end position of the side cover 114 isset so as to be present slightly above an upper face of the mountingplate portion 143 a of the support bracket 143 in the up-and-downdirection, and as shown in FIG. 13 the position in the up-and-downdirection is the same as the lower end position of the cover 165.

The operation of the first embodiment is now explained. Since at leastpart, along the peripheral direction, of the outer periphery of an upperpart of the rotating member 130 forming part of the rotation mechanism117 of the vehicle seat device 110 is covered by the cover 165 from theoutside, it is possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter into therotation mechanism 117 via at least a part that is covered by the cover165.

Furthermore, since the cover 165 is disposed at a position in which itcovers the outer periphery of an upper part of the rotating member 130from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion112 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, it is possibleto suppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism 117from the rear passenger seat side in a state in which a driver's seat ora passenger seat faces forward.

Moreover, since the skin 112 a of the seat cushion 112 is linked to therear edge of an upper end part of the rotating member 130 while being incontact with the outer face of the cover 165 in a state in which anoccupant seated on the seat cushion 112 faces forward in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction, it is possible to connect an upper part of thecover 165 to the skin 112 a of the seat cushion 112 so as to be incontact therewith, and it is possible to suppress more effectively theentry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism 117 from the rearpassenger seat side in a state in which a driver's seat or a passengerseat faces forward.

Furthermore, since the seat cushion frame 119 has the pair of sideframes 114, which extend linearly and are supported on the rotatingmember 130, and the cover 165 is mounted on the side frames 114, it ispossible to rotate the cover 165 together with the seat 111 by a simplestructure.

Moreover, since the outside face of the cover 165 is formed into an arcshape that protrudes outward of the rotating member 130, when the cover165 rotates together with the seat 111, even if the cover 165 comes intocontact with luggage, etc. on the floor within the vehicle compartment,it is possible to realize smooth rotation of the cover 165 andconsequently the seat 111.

Furthermore, since the fixed cover member 167 is fixedly disposedbeneath the cover 165, which covers at least the base member 129 fromthe rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 112faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, it is possible tosuppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism 117from the rear passenger seat side in a state in which a driver's seat ora passenger seat faces forward.

Moreover, since the fixed cover member 167 is in relatively slidablecontact with the lower part of the cover 165, it is possible to suppressmore effectively the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism117 from the rear passenger seat side in a state in which a driver'sseat or a passenger seat faces forward. Furthermore, since the outsideface of the fixed cover member 167 is formed into an arc shape thatprotrudes outward of the rotating member 130 in the same manner as forthe cover 165, which is present above the fixed cover member 167, it ispossible to suppress as much as possible the occurrence of a gap betweenthe fixed cover member 167 and the seat 111, including the cover 165,while the seat 111 is partway through rotation, and it is possible tosuppress effectively the entry of foreign matter into the rotationmechanism 117.

Moreover, since the position of the lower end of the side cover 114covering the seat cushion 112 from the outside is set to be the same asthe position of the lower end of the cover 165, it is possible tosuppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism 117from the rear passenger seat side in a state in which a driver's seat ora passenger seat is facing in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 20 shows a second embodiment of the present invention; partscorresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the samereference numerals and symbols and are only illustrated, detaileddescription thereof being omitted.

The rotation mechanism 117 is disposed beneath a seat cushion 172forming a seat 171 together with the seat back 113, and a cover-mountingplate 174 that protrudes rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft directionin a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 172 facesforward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction is fixed to the secondtaper portion 130 a of the rotating member 130 forming part of therotation mechanism 117.

On the other hand, part of a skin 172 a of the seat cushion 172 isextended downward so as to form a cover 175 covering the outer peripheryof the upper part of the rotating member 130 from the rear in a state inwhich an occupant seated on the seat cushion 172 faces forward in thevehicle fore-and-aft direction, the lower edge of the cover 175 isfixedly linked to the cover-mounting plate 174, and in this embodiment ahook 176 secured to the lower edge of the cover 175 by sewing is engagedwith the edge of the cover-mounting plate 174. The cover 175 is therebyfixedly linked to the cover-mounting plate 174 while covering the outerperiphery of the upper part of the rotating member 130 from the rear ina state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 172 facesforward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, but the lower edge of thecover 175 may be secured directly to the cover-mounting plate 174 byadhesion, etc.

A fixed cover member 177 that covers at least the base member 129 fromthe rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 172faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction is fixedly disposedbeneath the cover 175.

The fixed cover member 177 is mounted on for example a rear end part inthe vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the fixed rail 141 of the sliderail 116, and is formed so as to integrally have a flat plate-shapedvertical wall portion 177 a that extends in the up-and-down directionalong a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slide rail116, and a flat plate-shaped protruding plate portion 177 b thatprotrudes from the upper end of the vertical wall portion 177 a rearwardin the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.

The rear edge, in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, of the protrudingplate portion 177 b is in contact with the hook 176, and is formed intoan arc shape having the rotational axis of the rotating member 130 asthe center in order to ensure smooth rotation of the hook 176, whichrotates together with the rotating member 130.

In accordance with the second embodiment, since the cover 175 is formedfrom the skin 172 a of the seat cushion 172, it is possible to avoid anyincrease in the number of components when suppressing the entry offoreign matter into the rotation mechanism 117.

FIG. 21 shows a third embodiment of the present invention; partscorresponding to those of the first and second embodiments are denotedby the same reference numerals and symbols and are only illustrated,detailed description thereof being omitted.

At least part along the peripheral direction of the outer periphery ofthe upper part of the rotating member 130 (see first and secondembodiments) of the rotation mechanism 117 is covered by a cover 178from the outside, and in this embodiment it is covered by the cover 178from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion112 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.

The cover 178 is basically formed in the same manner as for the cover165 of the first embodiment, and is formed integrally with at least oneof the pair of side covers 114 covering from the outside the pair ofside frames 112 (see first embodiment) forming part of the seat cushionframe 112. The position of the lower end of the side cover 114 is set tobe the same as the position of the lower end of the cover 177, and thefixed cover member 167 is fixedly disposed beneath the cover 178.

Embodiments of the present invention are explained above, but thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiments and may be modifiedin a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from thesubject matter thereof.

For example, in the embodiments above, the arrangement is such that thatthe cover 165, 178 rotates together with the seat 111, 171, but thecover 165, 178 may be present at a fixed position.

Embodiment of Solution Means for Third Problem

An embodiment of the present invention is explained below by referenceto the attached drawings. In the explanation below, ‘fore and aft’,‘left and right’ and ‘up and down’ refer to directions viewed by aperson seated on a seat in a normal attitude facing forward.

First, in FIG. 22 , a vehicle seat device includes a pair of slide rails213 that extend linearly while being arranged in parallel to each otherand spaced in the left-and-right direction in order for a seat main body211 to be slidable, and a rotation mechanism 214 that rotatably supportsthe seat main body 211 and can move along the slide rails 213.

The seat main body 211 includes a seat cushion 211 a that is supportedon a seat cushion frame 216, a seat back 211 b that is supported on aseat back frame 217 linked to the seat cushion frame 216 and disposedabove the seat cushion 211 a, and a headrest 211 c supported by a guidetube 218 provided on the seat back frame 216 so that the height can beadjusted.

The seat cushion frame 216 has a pair of side frames 216 a that aredisposed so as to extend linearly in the fore-and-aft direction atpositions spaced from each other in the left-and-right direction, a panframe 216 b that provides a link between front end parts of the sideframes 216 a, and a rear pipe 216 c that provides a link between rearend parts of the pair of side frames 216 a.

Referring in addition to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 , mounted on the seatcushion frame 216 is a cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 thatreceives a load from above the seat cushion 211 a. The cushion-sidepressure-receiving member 219 has a plurality (four in this embodiment)of seat springs 220 that are formed by curving a metal wire in a zig-zagso as to snake to the left and right, these seat springs 220 beingdisposed so that adjacent seat springs 220 have lateral symmetry and theadjacent seat springs 220 being linked to each other by means of aplurality of intermediate linking members 221 that are made of a resinand molded by insertion molding so as to be integral with the seatspring 220.

Front end parts of the plurality of seat springs 220 are each engagedwith latching parts 222 provided on the pan frame 216 b of the seatcushion frame 216. Rear end parts of the mutually adjacent seat springs220 are engaged with the rear pipe 216 c of the seat cushion frame 216and are linked by means of a rear end part-linking member 223 that ismade of a resin and molded by insertion molding so as to be integralwith the seat spring 220, the rear end part-linking member 223 beingformed so as to cover the rear pipe 216 c.

That is, the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 bridges betweenthe pan frame 216 b and the rear pipe 216 c of the seat cushion frame216 and is disposed between the pair of side frames 216 a in plan view.Moreover, as shown in FIG. 24 a majority of the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member 219 is inclined downward to the rear andbridges between the pan frame 216 b and the rear pipe 216 c so that alowest end 219 a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 ispresent in the vicinity of the rear pipe 216 c in a rear end part of theseat cushion frame 216.

Referring again to FIG. 22 , the seat back frame 217 has a pair of seatback side frames 217 a that extend in the up-and-down direction atpositions spaced from each other in the left-and-right direction, anupper frame 217 b that provides a link between upper end parts of theseat back side frames 217 a, and a lower frame 217 c that provides alink between lower end parts of the pair of seat back side frames 217 a.

A back-side pressure-receiving member 224 formed from a resin, etc. soas to be elastically deformable is disposed between the pair of seatback side frames 217 a, and the back-side pressure-receiving member 224bridges between the left and right seat back side frames 217 a via anupper link wire 225 and a lower link wire 226.

Referring in addition to FIG. 25 to FIG. 27 , the seat cushion frame 216is placed on the rotation mechanism 214, the rotation mechanism 214including a base member 229 that can move along the slide rails 213, arotating member 230 that supports the seat cushion frame 216 and isrotatably supported on the base member 229, and a cover member 231 thatis fixed to the base member 229 while covering part of the rotatingmember 230 from above.

The base member 229 has an annular first bottom wall portion 229 a, acylindrical first side wall portion 229 b that rises upward from anouter peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion 229 a, and afirst collar portion 229 c that protrudes outward from an upper end partof the first side wall portion 229 b, the first collar portion 229 cbeing formed into a rectangular shape.

The cover member 231 has an annular second bottom wall portion 231 athat abuts against the first bottom wall portion 229 a of the basemember 229 from above, a cylindrical second side wall portion 231 b thatrises slightly upward from the outer periphery of the second bottom wallportion 231 a, a first taper portion 231 c that is formed so as to havea larger diameter in going upward and is connectedly provided on anupper end part of the second side wall portion 231 b, an annular firstflat wall portion 231 d that protrudes sideways from an upper end partof the first taper portion 231 c, and a cylindrical third side wallportion 231 e that rises upward from the outer periphery of the firstflat wall portion 231 d, the second bottom wall portion 231 a beingjoined to the first bottom wall portion 229 a of the base member 229 bya plurality of rivets 232.

The rotating member 230 has a second taper portion 230 a that isdisposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 231 c of thecover member 231 from the outside and is formed so as to have a largerdiameter in going upward, a cylindrical fourth side wall portion 230 bthat rises upward from an upper end part of the second taper portion 230a so as to oppose the third side wall portion 231 e of the cover member231 from the outside, and a second collar portion 230 c that protrudesoutward from the fourth side wall portion 230 b, the second collarportion 230 c being formed into a rectangular shape. A linking member233 extending in parallel with the slide rail 213 is fastened to thesecond collar portion 230 c by means of pluralities of first bolts 234and second nuts 235. The side frame 216 a of the seat cushion frame 216is linked to the linking member 233, and the side frames 216 a extendlinearly while being arranged at positions spaced from each other andare fixedly disposed on the second collar portion 230 c of the rotatingmember 230 via the linking member 233.

The rotating member 230 is rotatably supported on an annular rotationsupport part 236 of the base member 229 via a bearing 237, the rotationsupport part 236 being formed from the first bottom wall portion 229 aand the first side wall portion 229 b of the base member 229 so that itscross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped.

The bearing 237 is formed by retaining balls 239 at a plurality oflocations in the peripheral direction of an annular retainer 238, and anannular recess part 240 for the balls 239 to roll in is formed in thesecond taper portion 230 a of the rotating member 230.

A housing part 241 opening at least upward is formed in a central partof the rotating member 230. In this embodiment, the housing part 241 isarranged so as to open both upward and downward via the second taperportion 230 a and the fourth side wall portion 230 b of the rotatingmember 230, and the cover member 231 is housed and disposed within thehousing part 241.

The slide rail 213 is formed from a fixed rail 245 that extends in thevehicle fore-and-aft direction and a movable rail 246 that is slidablyfitted to the fixed rail 245, the first collar portion 229 c of the basemember 229 being fastened to the movable rail 246 by means ofpluralities of second bolts 247 and second nuts 248.

The rotating member 230 is rotatingly driven by a rotating device 249that is provided between the rotating member 230 and the base member229, the rotating device 249 including an actuator 250, an output gear251 that is rotated by rotational power exerted by the actuator 250, andan input gear 252 that meshes with the output gear 251.

The actuator 250 and the output gear 251 are mounted on one of therotating member 230 and the base member 229, and the input gear 252 isfixed to the other of the rotating member 230 and the base member 229.

Moreover, the actuator 250 is mounted on that one of the base member 229and the rotating member 230 that is longer in the up-and-down direction,and in this embodiment the actuator 250 is mounted on the rotatingmember 230 side and the input gear 252 is fixed to the base member 229.

The actuator 250 includes an electric motor 253 that has a rotationalaxis extending in the vehicle width direction, a gear box 255 that islinked to a case 254 of the electric motor 253, and an output shaft 256that protrudes from the gear box 255 with its rotational axis parallelto a rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230, the output gear 251being provided on the output shaft 256. A gear reduction mechanism (notillustrated) that transmits the rotational power of the electric motor253 to the output shaft 256 by changing the rotational direction through90 degrees and decreasing the speed is housed within the gear box 255,this gear reduction mechanism including a worm gear so as to prevent therotational power from the output shaft 256 side from being transmittedtoward the electric motor 253 side.

The rotating member 230 is rotatingly driven through a range of 180degrees, the input gear 252 is formed into an arc shape of substantially180 degrees while having a gear portion 252 a on the inner peripheralpart, and the gear portion 252 a is fixed to a lower face of the innerperipheral part of the first bottom wall portion 229 a of the basemember 229 so as to protrude radially inward from the inner periphery ofthe first bottom wall portion 229 a. The gear portion 252 a is therebydisposed so as to face toward the rotational axis 2C of the rotatingmember 230.

When fixing the input gear 252 to the base member 229, some of theplurality of rivets 232 that are used to join the second bottom wallportion 231 a of the cover member 231 to the first bottom wall portion229 a of the base member 229 are used for joining the second bottom wallportion 231 a and the input gear 252 together to the first bottom wallportion 229 a with the first bottom wall portion 229 a sandwichedtherebetween. In this arrangement, when an end part in the peripheraldirection of the input gear 252 is disposed at a position correspondingto the rivet 232 for joining both the second bottom wall portion 231 aand the input gear 252 together to the first bottom wall portion 229 a,in order to avoid the input gear 252 having a wasteful length in theperipheral direction, as shown in FIG. 26 a cutout 257 may be formed inthe end part in the peripheral direction of the input gear 252.

Mounted on the rotating member 230 is a mounting member 258 that isdisposed further inside than an outer periphery 230 d of the rotatingmember 230 in plan view, and mounted on the mounting member 258 is theactuator 250, which includes the electric motor 253. That is, the gearbox 255 of the actuator 250 is mounted on an upper face of the mountingmember 258, and the output gear 251 is provided on the output shaft 256,which extends through the mounting member 258.

The mounting member 258 is disposed further forward than the rotationalaxis 2C of the rotating member 230. The mounting member 258 extends soas to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slide rail 213while having on opposite end parts joining plate portions 258 a that arejoined to an upper face of the third collar portion 230 c of therotating member 230, and are formed so as to integrally have the pair ofjoining plate portions 258 a, a pair of left and right inclined plateportions 258 b that are provided so as to be connected to the joiningplate portions 258 a via an upper end part while being inclined downwardin going radially inward of the rotating member 230, and a flatsupporting plate portion 258 c that provides a connection between lowerends of the inclined plate portions 258 b.

Since the inclined plate portion 258 b is disposed within the housingpart 241 in the central part of the rotating member 230 while opposingthe first taper portion 231 c of the cover member 231 from the inside,and the second taper portion 230 a of the rotating member 230 opposesthe first taper portion 231 c from the outside, the inclined plateportion 258 b is disposed within the housing part 241 while beinginclined along the second taper portion 230 a of the rotating member230.

The actuator 250 is mounted on an upper face of the supporting plateportion 258 c of the mounting member 258, and in a state in which it ismounted on the mounting member 258 the actuator 250 is disposed beneaththe cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 while avoidinginterference with the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219.

Disposed between the first taper portion 231 c of the cover member 231and the second taper portion 230 a of the rotating member 230 is anannular slider 260 that is in sliding contact with each of the taperportions 231 c, 230 a. The slider 260 is employed in order to share thecover member 231 and the rotating member 230 with a vehicle seat devicein which the rotating member 230 is rotated by applying manual power tothe rotation mechanism 214 instead of electric power by means of theactuator 250. In a vehicle seat device in which rotation by manual poweris made possible, instead of the slider 260, an annular member formingpart of a mechanism that suppresses rattling of the rotating member 230in a locked state in which rotation of the rotating member 230 isprevented is disposed between the first taper portion 231 c and thesecond taper portion 230 a.

A blower 265 is disposed further rearward than the front edge of the panframe 216 b forming a front part of the seat cushion frame 216, and aduct 266 having one end portion 266 a connected to the blower 265 has anopening 267 formed in the other end portion 266 b, which functions as ablower outlet.

As shown in FIG. 24 the blower 265 is mounted on a lower part of the panframe 216 b via a support member 268, and the opening 267 is disposed onthe radially inner side of the annular rotating member 230 and on theradially inner side of the cover member 231 in plan view. The opening267 opens toward the seat cushion 211 a side, and is disposed in planview as is clearly shown in FIG. 23 between a pair of seat springs 220that are adjacent to each other among a plurality of seat springs 220forming the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219.

The other end portion 266 b of the duct 266 protrudes slightly so as tobe higher than the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219, and anopen edge 267 a at the upper end of the opening 267 is disposed at aposition higher than the annular rotating member 230 when viewed fromthe side.

The one end portion 266 a of the duct 266 is connected to the blower 265so as to overlap the annular rotating member 230 in plan view at aposition higher than the upper end of the annular rotating member 230,and an intermediate part of the duct 266 is disposed so as to overlapthe annular rotating member 230 when viewed from the side and is housedin the housing part 241.

The operation of the electric motor 253, which is a first item ofelectrical equipment, is controlled by a first ECU 270, and theoperation of the blower 265, which is a second item of electricalequipment, is controlled by a second ECU 271, both the first and secondECUs 270, 271 being present within the housing part 241 in the centralpart of the rotating member 230 in plan view, and at least parts of theECUs 270, 271 (the entirety in this embodiment) being disposed atpositions in which they overlap the rotating member 230 when viewed fromthe side.

The first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are disposed in an attitude inwhich they are inclined along the second taper portion 230 a of therotating member 230, the first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 beingmounted on the mounting member 258, which is mounted on the rotatingmember 230 in order to mount the actuator 250, which includes theelectric motor 253. That is, the mounting member 258 has the pair ofinclined plate portions 258 b, which are disposed within the housingpart 241 in the central part of the rotating member 230 while beinginclined along the second taper portion 230 a, and the first ECU 270 andthe second ECU 271 are respectively mounted on the pair of inclinedplate portions 258 b disposed within the housing part 241 while beinginclined along the second taper portion 230 a.

The first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are disposed beneath thecushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 while avoiding interferencewith the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 as in the case withthe actuator 250, and are mounted on the inclined plate portion 258 b.As shown in FIG. 24 , the actuator 250 and the mounting member 258, onwhich the first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are mounted, are presentbeneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 further forwardthan the lowest end 219 a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member219 when viewed from the side, and the first ECU 270 and the second ECU271 are therefore disposed at positions that avoid being immediatelybelow the lowest end 219 a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member219 when viewed from the side.

The operation of the embodiment is now explained. Since the circularhousing part 241, which opens at least upward, is formed in the centralpart of the rotating member 230 forming part of the rotation mechanism214, and the first ECU 270, which controls the operation of the electricmotor 253, and the second ECU 271, which controls the operation of theblower 265, are present within the housing part 241 in plan view and aredisposed at positions so that at least parts of the ECUs 270, 271overlap the rotating member 230 when viewed from the side, it ispossible, by suppressing upward protrusion of the first ECU 270 and thesecond ECU 271 from the rotating member 230, to avoid any increase inthe height of the seat cushion 211 a due to disposition of the first andsecond ECUs 270, 271 and also to avoid any increase in the size of thevehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis 2Cof the rotating member 230. Moreover, in this embodiment, since theentireties of the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are disposed atpositions in which they overlap the rotating member 230 when viewed fromthe side, it is possible to dispose the first ECU 270 and the second ECU271 by suppressing upward protrusion of the first ECU 270 and the secondECU 271 from the rotating member 230, thus suppressing more effectivelyany increase in the height of the seat cushion 211 a.

Furthermore, since the rotating member 230 is formed so as to have thesecond taper portion 230 a, which is formed so that the diameterincreases in going upward, the cylindrical fourth side wall portion 230b, which rises upward from the upper end part of the second taperportion 230 a so as to form the housing part 241 in cooperation with thesecond taper portion 230 a, and the second collar portion 230 c, whichprotrudes outward from the fourth side wall portion 230 b, and the firstand second ECUs 270, 271 are disposed in an attitude in which they areinclined along the second taper portion 230 a, it is possible tosuppress more effectively upward protrusion of the first and second ECUs270, 271 from the rotating member 230 and to suppress more effectivelythe height of the seat cushion 211 a.

Moreover, the electric motor 253 and the first and second ECUs 270, 271are mounted on the rotating member 230 side, which is the one that hasthe greater length in the up-and-down direction among the base member229 and the rotating member 230, and it is thus possible to easilyensure there is space for disposition of the electric motor 253 and thefirst and second ECUs 270, 271 while suppressing any increase in theheight of the vehicle seat device.

Furthermore, since the mounting member 258, which is disposed furtherinside than the outer periphery 230 d of the rotating member 230 in planview, is mounted on the rotating member 230, and the first and secondECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the mounting member 258, it is possible toavoid any increase in the size of the vehicle seat device in a directionorthogonal to the rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230 due todisposition of the mounting member 258, on which the first and secondECUs 270, 271 are mounted.

Moreover, since not only the first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 butalso the electric motor 253, which exerts power for rotating therotating member 230, are mounted on the mounting member 258, it is alsopossible to avoid any increase in the size of the vehicle seat device ina direction orthogonal to the rotational axis 2C of the rotating member230 due to disposition of the mounting member 258, on which the electricmotor 253 is mounted, thereby making it easy to connect the electricmotor 253 and the first ECU 270, which controls the operation of theelectric motor 253.

Furthermore, due to the mounting member 258 being mounted on therotating member 230, both the electric motor 253 and the first andsecond ECUs 270, 271 rotate with respect to the base member 229 when therotating member 230 is rotating, and it is possible to compactly collecttogether the wiring for connecting the electric motor 253 and the firstECU 270, which controls the operation of the electric motor 253.

Moreover, since the mounting member 258 has the inclined plate portion258 b, which is inclined along the second taper portion 230 a of therotating member 230 and is disposed within the housing part 241, and thefirst and second ECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the inclined plate portion258 b, it is possible to easily mount the first and second ECUs 270, 271on the mounting member 258 in an inclined attitude in which they areinclined along the second taper portion 230 a of the rotating member230, thus suppressing upward protrusion of the first and second ECUs270, 271 from the rotating member 230.

Furthermore, since the mounting member 258 is joined to the secondcollar portion 230 c of the rotating member 230 further forward than therotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230, and the first and secondECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the inclined plate portion 258 b atpositions in which they avoid interference with the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member 219, which is mounted on the seat cushionframe 216 so as to receive a load from above the seat cushion 211 a, itis possible to avoid any increase in the size of the vehicle seat devicein the up-and-down direction.

Moreover, since the electric motor 250 and the first and second ECUs270, 271 are disposed while avoiding being immediately beneath thelowest end 219 a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 whenviewed from the side, it is possible to more easily avoid interferenceof the electric motor 253 and the first and second ECUs 270, 271 withthe cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219. Furthermore, theelectric motor 250 and the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are disposedbeneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 further forwardthan the lowest end 219 a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member219, and it is possible to dispose the electric motor 250 and the firstand second ECUs 270, 271 by utilizing effectively a space beneath thecushion-side pressure-receiving member 219.

An embodiment of the present invention is explained above, but thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiment and may be modifiedin a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from thesubject matter thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, the first ECU 270, which controlsthe operation of the electric motor 253, and the second ECU 271, whichcontrols the operation of the blower 265, are explained, but the presentinvention may be widely applied to an ECU for controlling the operationof electrical equipment possessed by the vehicle seat device.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first and second ECUs 270, 271are mounted on the mounting member 258 mounted on the rotating member230, but an ECU may be mounted directly on the rotating member 230.

Embodiments of Solution Means for Fourth Problem

Embodiments of the present invention are explained below by reference tothe attached drawings. In the explanation below, ‘fore and aft’, ‘leftand right’ and ‘up and down’ refer to directions viewed by a personseated on a seat in a normal attitude facing forward.

A first embodiment of the present invention is explained by reference toFIG. 28 to FIG. 33 . First, in FIG. 28 , a seat main body 311 of avehicle seat mounted on a vehicle includes a seat cushion 311 a and aseat back 311 b disposed above the seat cushion 311 a, and a headrest311 c that receives a head part of an occupant is disposed on an upperpart of the seat back 311 b.

A seat frame 315 supporting the seat main body 311 includes a seatcushion frame 316 supporting the seat cushion 311 a and a seat backframe 317 that supports the seat back 311 b and is linked to a rear partof the seat cushion frame 316 via a support shaft 312, the seat frame315 being supported by a pair of left and right slide rails 313 providedon a vehicle floor face so as to extend in the vehicle fore-and-aftdirection via a seat-rotating device 314 that can slide in the vehiclefore-and-aft direction.

The seat cushion frame 316 includes a pair of left and right side frames316 a that extend along the longitudinal direction of the slide rail 313when the seat-rotating device 314 is in a state in which an occupantfaces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, a pan frame 316 bthat provides a link between front end parts of the side frames 316 a,and a link pipe 316 c that provides a link between rear parts of thepair of side frames 316 a.

The seat back frame 317 includes a pair of left and right seat back sideframes 317 a that extend in the up-and-down direction and have theirlower end parts tiltably linked to a rear end part of the side frame 316a via the support shaft 312, an upper frame 317 b that provides a linkbetween upper end parts of the seat back side frames 317 a, and a lowerframe 317 c that provides a link between lower end parts of the pair ofseat back side frames 317 a, a pair of left and right pipe members 318guiding up-and-down movement of the headrest 311 c being fixed to theupper frame 317 b.

Referring in addition to FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 , a cushion-sidepressure-receiving member 319 that receives a load from above the seatcushion 311 a bridges between the pan frame 316 b and the rear pipe 316c of the seat cushion frame 316. The cushion-side pressure-receivingmember 319 has a plurality (four in this embodiment) of seat springs 320that are formed by curving a metal wire in a zig-zag so as to snake tothe left and right, these seat springs 320 being disposed so thatadjacent seat springs 320 have lateral symmetry and the adjacent seatsprings 320 being linked to each other by means of a plurality ofintermediate linking members 321 that are made of a resin and molded byinsertion molding so as to be integral with the seat spring 320.

Front end parts of the plurality of seat springs 320 are each engagedwith latching parts 322 provided on the pan frame 316 b of the seatframe 316. Rear end parts of the mutually adjacent seat springs 320 arelinked by means of a rear end part-linking member 323 that is made of aresin, molded by insertion molding so as to be integral with the seatspring 320, and engaged with the support shaft 312 between the seatframe 315 and the seat back frame 317, the rear end part-linking member323 being formed so as to cover the support shaft 312.

Referring again to FIG. 28 , a back-side pressure-receiving member 324formed from a resin, etc. so as to be elastically deformable is disposedbetween the pair of seat back side frames 317 a of the seat back frame317, and the back-side pressure-receiving member 324 bridges between theleft and right seat back side frames 317 a via an upper link wire 325and a lower link wire 326.

The slide rail 313 is formed from a fixed rail 345 that extends in thevehicle fore-and-aft direction and a movable rail 346 that is slidablyfitted to the fixed rail 345, a front part of the fixed rail 345 isfixed to a vehicle floor face 347 via a front bracket 348, and a rearpart of the fixed rail 345 is fixed to the floor face 347 via a rearbracket 349. Moreover, the front bracket 348 is formed so as to behigher than the rear bracket 349, and the fixed rail 345, that is, theslide rail 313, extends in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction so as tobe inclined so that its height decreases in going rearward in thevehicle fore-and-aft direction.

Referring in addition to FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 , the seat cushion frame316 is placed on the seat-rotating device 314, the seat-rotating device314 including a base member 329 that can move along the slide rail 313,an annular rotating member 330 that supports the seat cushion frame 316and is rotatably supported on the base member 329, and a cover member331 that is fixed to the base member 329 while covering part of therotating member 330 from above.

The base member 329 has an annular first bottom wall portion 329 a, acylindrical first side wall portion 329 b that rises upward from anouter peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion 329 a, and afirst collar portion 329 c that protrudes outward from an upper end partof the first side wall portion 329 b, the first collar portion 329 cbeing formed into a rectangular shape.

The cover member 331 has an annular second bottom wall portion 331 athat abuts against the first bottom wall portion 329 a of the basemember 329 from above, a cylindrical second side wall portion 331 b thatrises slightly upward from the outer periphery of the second bottom wallportion 331 a, a first taper portion 331 c that is formed so as to havea larger diameter in going upward and is connectedly provided on anupper end part of the second side wall portion 331 b, an annular firstflat wall portion 331 d that protrudes sideways from an upper end partof the first taper portion 331 c, and a cylindrical third side wallportion 331 e that rises upward from the outer periphery of the firstflat wall portion 331 d, the second bottom wall portion 331 a beingjoined to the first bottom wall portion 329 a of the base member 329 bya plurality of rivets 332.

The rotating member 330 has a second taper portion 330 a that isdisposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 331 c of thecover member 331 from the outside and is formed so as to have a largerdiameter in going upward, a cylindrical fourth side wall portion 330 bthat rises upward from an upper end part of the second taper portion 330a so as to oppose the third side wall portion 331 e of the cover member331 from the outside, and a second collar portion 330 c that protrudesoutward from the fourth side wall portion 330 b, the second collarportion 330 c being formed into a rectangular shape.

A frame support member 333 extending in parallel with the side frame 316a of the seat cushion frame 316 is fastened to the second collar portion330 c of the rotating member 330 via pluralities of first bolts 334 andsecond nuts 335. The side frame 316 a is supported on the frame supportmember 333 so that it can be raised and lowered and cannot undergorelative rotation.

The rotating member 330 is rotatably supported on an annular rotationsupport part 336 of the base member 329 via a bearing 337, the rotationsupport part 336 being formed from the first bottom wall portion 329 aand the first side wall portion 329 b of the base member 329 so that itscross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped.

The bearing 337 is formed by retaining balls 339 at a plurality oflocations in the peripheral direction of an annular retainer 338, and anannular recess part 340 for the balls 339 to roll in is formed in thesecond taper portion 330 a of the rotating member 330.

A housing part 341 is formed in a central part of the rotating member330 so as to open both upward and downward by means of the second taperportion 330 a and the fourth side wall portion 330 b of the rotatingmember 330, the cover member 331 being housed and disposed within thehousing part 341.

The first collar portion 329 c of the base member 329 is fastened to themovable rail 346 by means of pluralities of second bolts 342 and secondnuts 343.

The rotating member 330 is rotatingly driven by power exerted by anelectric actuator for rotation 350 as a first electrical componentmounted on at least one of the seat frame 315 and the rotating member330 (in this embodiment the rotating member 330), and an input gear 352provided on the base member 329 is meshed with an output gear 351possessed by the electric actuator for rotation 350.

The electric actuator for rotation 350 includes an electric motor 353that has a rotational axis extending in the vehicle width direction, agear box 355 that is linked to a case 354 of the electric motor 353, andan output shaft 356 that protrudes from the gear box 355 with itsrotational axis parallel to a rotational center 3C of the rotatingmember 330, the output gear 351 being provided on the output shaft 356.A gear reduction mechanism (not illustrated) that transmits therotational power of the electric motor 353 to the output shaft 356 bychanging the rotational direction through 90 degrees and decreasing thespeed is housed within the gear box 355, this gear reduction mechanismincluding a worm gear so as to prevent the rotational power from theoutput shaft 356 side from being transmitted toward the electric motor353 side.

The rotating member 330 is rotatingly driven through a range of 180degrees, the input gear 352 is formed into an arc shape of substantially180 degrees while having a gear portion 352 a on the inner peripheralpart, and the gear portion 352 a is fixed to a lower face of an innerperipheral part of the first bottom wall portion 329 a of the basemember 329 so as to protrude radially inward from the inner periphery ofthe first bottom wall portion 329 a.

When fixing the input gear 352 to the base member 329, some of theplurality of rivets 332, which are used to join the second bottom wallportion 331 a of the cover member 331 to the first bottom wall portion329 a of the base member 329, are used for joining the second bottomwall portion 331 a and the input gear 352 together to the first bottomwall portion 329 a with the first bottom wall portion 329 a sandwichedtherebetween.

Mounted on the rotating member 330 is a mounting member 358 that isdisposed further inside than an outer periphery 330 d of the rotatingmember 330 in plan view, and mounted in the mounting member 358 is theactuator 350, which includes the electric motor 353. That is, the gearbox 355 of the actuator 350 is mounted on an upper face of the mountingmember 358, and the output gear 351 is provided on the output shaft 356,which extends through the mounting member 358.

The mounting member 358 is disposed further forward than the rotationalcenter 3C of the rotating member 330. The mounting member 358 extends soas to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slide rail 313while having on opposite end parts joining plate portions 358 a that arejoined to an upper face of the third collar portion 330 c of therotating member 330, and is formed so as to integrally have the pair ofjoining plate portions 358 a, a pair of left and right inclined plateportions 358 b that are provided so as to be connected to the joiningplate portion 358 a via an upper end part while being inclined downwardin going radially inward of the rotating member 330, and a flatsupporting plate portion 358 c that provides a connection between lowerends of the inclined plate portions 358 b.

An electric wire 359 connected to the electric motor 353 of the electricactuator for rotation 350 is retained by an electric wire retainingmember 360 that is fixedly disposed at the rotational center 3C of therotating member 330.

Disposed between the first taper portion 331 c of the cover member 331and the second taper portion 330 a of the rotating member 330 is anannular slider 361 that is in sliding contact with each of the taperportions 331 c, 330 a. The slider 361 is employed in order to share thecover member 331 and the rotating member 330 with a vehicle seat devicein which the rotating member 330 is rotated by applying manual power tothe seat-rotating device 314 instead of electric power by means of theelectric actuator for rotation 350. In a vehicle seat device in whichrotation by manual power is made possible, instead of the slider 360, anannular member forming part of a mechanism that suppresses rattling ofthe rotating member 330 in a locked state in which rotation of therotating member 330 is prevented is disposed between the first taperportion 331 c and the second taper portion 330 a.

A blower 365, which is a second electrical component, is mounted on atleast one of the seat frame 315 and the rotating member 330, in thisembodiment the pan frame 316 b of the seat cushion frame 316 of the seatframe 315, and a duct 366 having one end portion 366 a connected to theblower 365 has an opening 367 formed in the other end portion 366 b,which functions as a blower outlet.

As shown in FIG. 30 the blower 365 is mounted on a lower part of the panframe 316 b via a blower support member 368, the opening 367 beingdisposed on the radially inner side of the annular rotating member 330and on the radially inner side of the cover member 331 in plan view. Theopening 367 opens toward the seat cushion 311 a side, and is disposed inplan view as is clearly shown in FIG. 29 between a pair of seat springs320 that are adjacent to each other among a plurality of seat springs320 forming the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319.

The other end portion 366 b of the duct 366 protrudes slightly so as tobe higher than the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319, and anopen edge 367 a at the upper end of the opening 367 is disposed at aposition higher than the annular rotating member 330 when viewed fromthe side.

An electric wire 369 connected to an electric motor (not illustrated) ofthe blower 365 is retained by the electric wire retaining member 360fixedly disposed at the rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330.

Referring to FIG. 28 , a link mechanism 371 is provided between therotating member 330 of the seat-rotating device 314 and the seat frame315, the link mechanism 371 including a pair of left and right linkmembers 372 having one end part pivotably linked to the link pipe 316 con the inside of the pair of side frames 316 a of the seat cushion frame316 of the seat frame 315, and the other end parts of the link members372 being pivotably linked to the frame support member 333 fixed to therotating member 330 via a link pin 373. That is, the side frame 316 a ofthe seat cushion frame 316 of the seat frame 315 is supported on theframe support member 333 fixed to the rotating member 330 so that it canbe raised and lowered.

Mounted on at least one of the seat frame 315 and the rotating member330, in this embodiment an outside face of one of the pair of sideframes 316 a of the seat frame 315, is an electric actuator forraising/lowering 374, which is a third electrical component, that canexert power for raising and lowering the seat frame 315.

Among the pair of link members 372 of the link mechanism 371 providedbetween frame support member 333 fixed to the rotating member 330 andthe seat frame 315, the link member 372 on the one side frame 316 a sidehas provided integrally therewith a sector gear (not illustrated) thatcan rotate around the axis of the link pin 373, the electric actuatorfor raising/lowering 374 includes a drive gear (not illustrated) meshingwith the sector gear, and the sector gear is pivoted around the axis ofthe link pin 373 together with the link member 372 by rotation of thedrive gear, thus making it possible to raise and lower the seat frame315.

An electric wire 376 connected to an electric motor 375 of the electricactuator for raising/lowering 374 is guided to the inside of theseat-rotating device 314 via a through hole 377 formed in the one sideframe 316 a and is retained by the electric wire retaining member 360.

An electric actuator for tilting 378 as a fourth electrical component ismounted on a lower part of the seat back frame 317 of the seat frame315. In this embodiment the electric actuator for tilting 378 is mountedon a lower part of one of the pair of seat back side frames 317 a of theseat back frame 317.

An electric wire 380 connected to an electric motor 379 of the electricactuator for tilting 378 is made to extend to the inside of theseat-rotating device 314 and is retained by the electric wire retainingmember 360.

An intermediate retaining member 381 is mounted on the seat back frame317 or the rotating member 330 (in this embodiment the lower part of theone seat back side frame 317 a of the seat back frame 317) in thevicinity of the support shaft 312 tiltably linking the seat back frame317 to the seat cushion frame 316, and the electric wire 380 is retainedon the electric wire retaining member 360 via the electric wireretaining member 381.

The electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 individually connected to theelectric actuator for rotation 350 as the first electrical component,the blower 365 as the second electrical component, the electric actuatorfor raising/lowering 374 as the third electrical component, and theelectric actuator for tilting 378 as the fourth electrical component arecollected together and retained by the single electric wire retainingmember 360.

Moreover, the electric wire retaining member 360 is disposed at aposition in which it retains the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380beneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319, and is mounteddirectly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319.

The operation of the embodiment is now explained. Electrical componentsare mounted on at least one of the seat frame 315 supporting the seatmain body 311 and the rotating member 330 supporting the seat frame 315;in this embodiment the blower 365, the electric actuator forraising/lowering 374, and the electric actuator for tilting 378 aselectrical components are mounted on the seat frame 315, and theelectric actuator for rotation 350 as an electrical component is mountedon the rotating member 330, the electric wire 359 connected to theelectric actuator for rotation 350, the electric wire 369 connected tothe blower 365, the electric wire 376 connected to the electric actuatorfor raising/lowering 374, and the electric wire 380 connected to theelectric actuator for tilting 378 being retained by the electric wireretaining member 360 fixedly disposed at the rotational center 3C of therotating member 330, thus making it possible to avoid the occurrence ofsagging or damage to the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 when the seatmain body 311 is rotating.

Furthermore, since the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 individuallyconnected to the electric actuator for rotation 350, the blower 365, theelectric actuator for raising/lowering 374, and the electric actuatorfor tilting 378, which are the plurality of electrical components, arecollected together and retained by the single electric wire retainingmember 360, it is possible to compactly and collectively carry outwiring of the plurality of electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380.

Moreover, since the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319, whichreceives a load from above the seat cushion 311 a, is mounted on thecushion frame 316, which forms part of the seat frame 315 and issupported on the rotating member 330, and the electric wire retainingmember 360 is disposed at a position in which it retains the electricwires 359, 369, 376, 380 beneath the cushion-side pressure-receivingmember 319, it is possible to suppress protrusion of the electric wireretaining member 360 toward the seat face for an occupant, thus enablinginterference of the electric wire retaining member 360 with the occupantseated on the seat face to be avoided.

Furthermore, since the electric wire retaining member 360 is mounteddirectly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319, it ispossible to efficiently dispose the electric wire retaining member 360at the rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330 while avoidingany increase in the number of components due to there being no need fornewly providing a member for mounting the electric wire retaining member360.

Furthermore, since the seat frame 315 includes the seat cushion frame316 supported on the rotating member 330, and the seat back frame 317tiltably mounted on the seat cushion frame 316 via the support shaft312, the electric actuator for tilting 378, which is the electricalcomponent, is mounted on the lower part of the seat back frame 317 sothat the seat back frame 317 can be driven so as to tilt, and theelectric wire 380 connected to the electric actuator for tilting 378 isretained by the electric wire retaining member 360 via the intermediateretaining member 381 mounted on the seat back frame 317 in the vicinityof the support shaft 312, it is possible to prevent the occurrence ofsagging or damage to the electric wire 380 between the electric wireretaining member 360 and the electric actuator for tilting 378 when theseat main body 311 is rotating or the seat back frame 317 is tilting.

A second embodiment of the present invention is explained by referenceto FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 ; parts corresponding to those of the firstembodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols andare only illustrated, detailed description thereof being omitted.

A retaining member-supporting part 383 is mounted on the base member 329of the seat-rotating device 314, and an electric wire retaining member384 is mounted on the retaining member-supporting member 383.

The retaining member-supporting member 383 is mounted on the base member329 so as to pass through the rotational center 3C of the rotatingmember 330, and the electric wire retaining member 384 is mounted on theretaining member-supporting member 383 so as to retain, above theretaining member-supporting member 383, the electric wires 359, 369,376, 380 individually connected to the electric actuator for rotation350, the blower 365, the electric actuator for raising/lowering 374, andthe electric actuator for tilting 378 as electrical components, whilebeing disposed at the center of rotation 3C.

In accordance with the second embodiment, as in the above firstembodiment, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of sagging or damageto the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 when the seat main body 311 isrotating, and it is also possible to carry out wiring by compactlycollecting together the plurality of electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380.In addition thereto, when assembling the seat-rotating device 314, theelectric wire retaining member 384 can be easily assembled, theworkability improves, and since the electric wire retaining member 384retains the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 above the retainingmember-supporting member 383, it is possible to carry out wiring of theelectric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 by compactly collecting them togetherwithin the seat-rotating device 314.

As a third embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 35 , anelectric wire retaining member 386 retaining the electric wires 359,369, 376, 380 individually connected to the electric actuator forrotation 350, the blower 365, the electric actuator for raising/lowering374, and the electric actuator for tilting 378 as electrical componentsis mounted on a retaining member-supporting member 385 mounted on thebase member 329 of the seat-rotating device 314, and the electric wires359, 369, 376, 380 are retained by the electric wire retaining member386 so that they are present beneath the retaining member-supportingmember 385 and at the rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330.

In accordance with the third embodiment, the same effects as those ofthe above second embodiment can be exerted and, furthermore, due toassembly of the seat-rotating device 314 being carried out in a state inwhich the seat-rotating device 314 is laid sideways it is possible toeasily retain the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 on the electric wireretaining member 386, thus improving the workability.

Embodiments of the present invention are explained above, but thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiments and may be modifiedin a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from thesubject matter thereof.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A vehicle rotating seat device, comprising a seatframe that supports a seat main body, a rotating member that supportsthe seat frame, a base member that rotatably supports the rotatingmember from below, and an electrical component that is mounted on atleast one of the seat frame and the rotating member, wherein an electricwire connected to the electrical component is retained by an electricwire retaining member that is fixedly disposed at a center of rotationof the rotating member.
 18. The vehicle rotating seat device accordingto claim 17, wherein a plurality of the electric wires individuallyconnected to a plurality of the electrical components are retainedcollectively by the single electric wire retaining member.
 19. Thevehicle rotating seat device according to claim 17, wherein acushion-side pressure-receiving member that receives a load from above aseat cushion forming part of the seat main body is mounted on a seatcushion frame that forms part of the seat frame and is supported on therotating member, and the electric wire retaining member is disposed at aposition in which the electric wire is retained beneath the cushion-sidepressure-receiving member.
 20. The vehicle rotating seat deviceaccording to claim 19, wherein the electric wire retaining member ismounted directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member.
 21. Thevehicle rotating seat device according to claim 17, wherein thecushion-side pressure-receiving member, which receives a load from abovethe seat cushion forming part of the seat main body, is mounted on thecushion frame, which forms part of the seat frame and is supported onthe rotating member, and the electric wire retaining member is mounteddirectly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member.
 22. The vehiclerotating seat device according to claim 19, wherein the seat framecomprises the seat cushion frame, which is supported on the rotatingmember, and a seat back frame that is tiltably mounted on the seatcushion frame or the rotating member via a support shaft, an electricactuator for tilting, which is the electrical component, is mounted on alower part of the seat back frame so that the seat back frame can bedriven so as to tilt, and the electric wire connected to the electricactuator for tilting is retained by the electric wire retaining membervia an intermediate retaining member mounted on the seat back frame orthe rotating member in the vicinity of the support shaft.
 23. Thevehicle rotating seat device according to claim 19, wherein a retainingmember-supporting member is mounted on the base member, and the electricwire retaining member is mounted on the retaining member-supportingmember.
 24. The vehicle rotating seat device according to claim 23,wherein the electric wire retaining member retains the electric wiresabove the retaining member-supporting member and is mounted on theretaining member-supporting member.
 25. The vehicle rotating seat deviceaccording to claim 23, wherein the electric wire retaining memberretains the electric wires beneath the retaining member-supportingmember and is mounted on the retaining member-supporting member.